^y^^ 


o^^t 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


«' 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


M^ 
1^^ 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  l\/licroreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiqijes 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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D 


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I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


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Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


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I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


0 


D 
D 


Pages  de  couleur 

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Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pelliculdes 


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10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


7 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


ails 

du 

difier 

jne 

lage 


rata 


elure. 


3 


32X 


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The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ►  (meaning  "CON- 
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whichever  applies. 

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1 

2 

3 

L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

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papier  est  imprimde  sont  film^s  en  commenqant 
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d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  ~^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film<&  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

'I  ■ow-aMjaapdjiii 


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I 


II 


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O  li  S  E  R  V  A  T  I  O  N  S        .Jif/] 


O  N     T   H  E 


Mi^^ 


0- 


C  O  M  M  E  R  G  ^y^'^ 

OF      THE"       ^'7^^ 

AMERICAN    STATES 

WITH 

EUROPE  AND  THE  WEST  IND  I  ES| 

•j^  Including    the    fevcral    Articles    of 

Tm  port  AND   EXPORT. 
ALSO,    AN 

ESSAY 

O    N 

Canon  and  Feudal  Law. 

fl1^J|OHN    ADAMS,    Esquire  ; 

|^AMBAS|ADOR  PLENIPOTENTIARY,  from  the 

'**  Unitsd^MLmpendent  States  of  North  America, 
To  their  HigWiHiHTiNEssBS  the  States  General  of  th« 
I    J  Unit^||]|o|ince»    of  Holland. 

^      '^0  #hich  is  Annexed,  the  Political  Charafler  of  the  faid 


/•A 


JOHN    ADAMS,    Esquire  j 


-or, 


PRICE     HA%F     A     DOLL   A  R. 


*'"s?* 


X5^ 


sa*-!*-. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

Prihtkb  and  Sold  by  Robert   BELL,    in  Third-Street* 

M,DCC,LXXXin. 

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OBSERVATIONS 


-f    -■^■W.- 


■-.c- 


1 '    "'^tX-^ 


O  N     T  H  B 


COMMERCE 


OP      T  H  B 


AMERICAN  STATES 


WITH 


EUROPE  AND  THE  WEST  INDIES, 


Including   the    feveral    Articlbs    of 


IMPORT     AND     EXPORT. 


m 


i  ^-<^i-^ 


PRICE     HALF     A     DOLLAR. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

Printed  and  Sold  by  Robbrt  BELL,   im  Thir(l>Sti;cet» 

M,DCC,  LXXXXIL 


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OBSERVATIONS 

'  O  N     T  H  E 

COMMERCE  ;. 

O  F     T  H   E 

AMERICAN    STATES 

WITH  ;.■■.-  -'^- 

EUROPE  AND  THE  WEST  indies; 


As  a  rudden  revolution,  an  unprecedented  cafe,  a  momentous 
cbatige,  the  indep(!odence  of  America,  has  bewildered  our 
rearon  and  encouraged  the  wildeft  fallies  of  imagination,  fynems 
have  been  preferred  to  experience,  raOi  theory  to  fuccefsful  practice, 
and  the  Navigation  Ad  itfelf,  the  guardian  of  the  profperity  of 
Britain*  lias  been  almoft  abandoned  by  the  levity  or  ignorance  uf 
thofe  who  have  never  ferioafly  examined  the  fpirit  or  the  con- 
fequenceof  ancient  rules.  ^  Our  calmer  refleftioni  will  foon  dif- 
cover,  that  fuch  great  facrifices  are  neither  reqaifite  nor  expedient; 
and  the  knowledge  of  the  e:tport$  and  imports  of  the  American 
Slates  will  afford  as  faAs  and  principles  to  afcertaia  the  value  of 
their  uade,  to  forefce  their  true  intereftand  probable  condaft,  and 
to  choofe  the  wifeft  mcafures  (the  wifefl  are  always  the  moft 
fimple)  for  fecnrin|;  and  improving  the  benefits  of  a  commercial 
intercourfe  with  this  foreign  and  independent  nation.  For  it  is  ia 
the  light  of  a  foreign  country  that  America  muA  iiencefotward  be 
viewed  }  it  is  the  fituatioc  Oie  herfclf  has  chofe:.  by  affertiog  her 
independence,  and  the  whimfica!  ditfinition  of  3  ^ >^^p|eyW  gintrii, 
is  either  a  figure  of  rhetoric  which  «6nvc/s  no  a..i;i,,fl  idea,  or  the 
effort  of  cunning  to  unite  at  the  fame  time  the  ad»  lotages  of  tw© 
inconfiftent  charafters.  By  alTerting  their  independence,  the 
Americans  have  renounced  the  privileges,  as  well  as  the  duties,  of 
Britilh  fubjeds.  If  in  fome  ioflanccs,  as  in  the  lofs  of  the  carrying 
trade,  they  feel  the  inconvenience  of  their  choice,  they  can  no 
longer  complain  ;  but  if  they  are  placed  on  the  footing  of  the  moft 
favoured  nation,  they  moft  iurely  applaud  our  liberality  and  friend- 
Ihip,  without  expefting  that,  for  their  cmolament,  we  fitould 
facrifice  the  navigation  and  the  naval  power  of  Great  Britain.  By 
this  fimple,  if  only  temporary  cxpedier...  we  ftiall  efcape  the 
anknown  mifchiefi  of  crude  and  precipitate  fyftems,  we  (hall  avoid 


1 


^ 


^         OBSERVATIONS     - 

the  r«»«efi  of  hally  and  peraicioui.  concefliooi.  which  c«i>  «»er 
be  refumed  without  provoking  the  je.Ioufy.  and  perhaps  not  without 
an  fntiif,  commeicial  breach,  with  the  AiBCMcan  btate.. 

In  the  youthful  ardour  of  grafpi.g  the  advantages  of  the  Ameri- 
can trade,  a  bill  *.  ftill  depending,  «".  fi^«.  \"! '"''"" I'^J^P"! 
liament.  Had  it  paffcd  into  a  law.  it  wo^ild  have  affcfled  out 
mod  effential  iutcrcfts  in  every  branch  of  commerce,  and  to  every 
part  of  the  world  ;  it  would  have  endangered  the  repofe  of  Ireland. 
and  cxci.cd  the  jull  indignation  of  RufBa  and  other  countnes  f  ; 
and  the  Weft  India  pUncer.  would  have  been  the  only  fobjeasof 
llriiain  who  could  derive  any  benefit,  however  partial,  i/o*? jhaj 
open  in-.tcnorfe  direaiy  with  the  American  States,  and  indireftly 
v!.ih  the  rcU  .  f  the  world.  Fortunately  fome  delays  have  inter- 
v.ned.  nd  if  we  diligently  ufe  the  opportunity  "f. ^^J^^^  °"» 
the   future  welfare  of  our  country   may  depend  on  this  falutaiy 

^*Our  natural  impatience  to  pie-occupy  the  American  markcf. 
ihould  perhaps  be  rather  checked  than  encouraged.  The  fame 
ragernd^  h.s  been  indulged  by  our  rival  ««''°"' •.''^^  .''»"« 
vifd  with  each  Cher  in  pouring  their  manufafture.  into  Ame- 
rica, and  the  country  is  already  flocked,  moft  probably  over- 
ftocked.  with  European  commodities  J.  It  »  experience  alone 
fhat  can  dem«nftr.te\o  the  French,  or  Dutch  «-d=r  the  fallacy  of 
hi.  eager  hopes,  and  that  experience  will  operate  "^-h  ^^^X '° 
fa  ourlf  the'^Britifh  merchant."  He  alone  '^/blc  and  willing  to 
grant  that  liberal  credit  which  muft  be  extor  ed  from  his  competi- 
Ls  by  the  ralhnefs  of  their  early  venture,  ,  they  will  fo°»  difcover 
that  America  has  neither  money  or  foific.ent  produce  to  fend  in 
Anrn,  and  cannot  have  for  fome  time  ;  and  "Ot  intending  o 
ieing   able  to  give  credit,  their  funds  will  be  cxhaufted.^Uicu 

'^  •  Mov,J  in  parliamn,  h  the  Right  Hon.  W.  ^''^/«'' f//";;^- 
UroftlJExch/quer;    intitUd    "  abill,  for  ih>  pfovtfionalejiablfl,- 

mention  feviral  articUs  25  per  ant.  (hea}tr. 


i 


^'iQfcw.T     ^ 


-wr 


■4. 
.* 


ON      COMMERCE. 


can  never 
lot  without 

he  Ameri- 
i  into  par- 
Se(\eA  out 
id  to  every 
of  Ireland, 
)untricj  + ; 
fubjefts  of 

from  thcic 
I  indireaiy 
liave  inter- 

rcflcilion, 
bis  falutary 

an  market. 
The  fame 
ihey    have 
into    Ame- 
)ably  over- 
icnce  alone 
ic  fallacy  of 
eacli  day  \a 
d  willing  to 
\is  competi- 
bon  difcover 
:e  to  fend  in 
iitending  or 
auftcd,  their 
agents 

lal*  Chancit- 
mal  tftabUP}- 
\t  fubjt&s  of 


fidertd  as  the 
any  ridiculaui 
Uisethir  than 
10  this  country 
a  fart  of  th^ 
i/untriei  oft  an 


roptan  manu- 
■r  la/l  Jtir  '«, 
I  Phtlaaetfhi^ 


f 


\ 


agenti  will  never  ricnrn,  and  the  ruin  of  the  lirft  creditors  will 
ferve  as  a  lafting  wan.ing  to  their  routitrymen.  The  folid  power 
of  fupplying  the  wann  pf  America,  of  receiving  her  produce, 
and  of  wailing  her  convenience,  belongs  alnnoft  cxclitfively  to 
our  own  merchants.  It  we  can  ablUin  from  mifchievoiis  pre^ 
cipitation  we  may  now  \<-nin  what  we  ftiall  hereafter  tccl, 
that  ihe  indotiry  of  Britain  will  encounter  little  competition 
in  the  American  market.  We  (hall  obferve  with  pleafure,  that, 
among  the  maritime  dates,  France  our  hereditary  foe,  will  derive 
the  fmallell  benefitt  from  the  commercial  independence  of  Ameri- 
ca. She  may  exnit  in  the  difmemberment  of  the  BritiAi  empire, 
but  if  we  are  true  toourfelves,  and  to  the  wifdom  of  our  aoccftort, 
there  is  Aill  life  and  vigour  left  to  difappoint  her  hopes,  and  to 
controul  her  ambition.  § 

To  form  the  following  flate  it  was  neneffary  in  examine  and 
afccrtain  what  are  the  wants  of  America,  wliat  this  country  can 
provide  her  with,  which  cannot  be  procured  elCewlicre  on  terms 
equally  advantageous,  and  what  are  the  produdtions  of  America 
to  give  ill  return.  The  obfervations  made  on  them  may  throw 
fome  light  on  a  fubjeft  as  interelling,  although  perhaps  as  ill  un- 
derftood  as  any  that  can  be  agitated  among  us,  and  when  Dated  in 
this  manner,  they  may  be  better  comprehended  and  confidcred 
than  if  fpoken  to  benches  ufually  almotl  empty,  except  when  a 
ffliniflerial  qucftion  depends. 

The  imports  and  exports  of  the  American  States  muft  in  general, 
from  many  caufcs,  be  the  fame,  and  for  a  long  time  to  come,  that 
they  formerly  have  been. 

To  begin  with  imports  from  Europe  :  —  They  may  be  divided 
into  thoie  in  which  Great  Britain  will  have  fcarce  any  competition  ; 
thofe  in  which  (he  will  have  competition  ;  and  ttiofe  which  (he 
cannot  fupply  to  advantage. 

Articles 

.  §  Thirt  it  no  eircumffanet  of  thi  w«»*  that  can  infpirt  Franit 
nvitb  any  confidtnet  in  hir  Jiiit,  btr  army,  or  hir  fmanett.  By  the 
fufpenjion  of  the  carrying  trade,  by  her  negleS  and  abuft  of  her  army , 
Ihe  made  up  a  fl'.et  that ixat  in  no  injlance  •viilorious,  iomt  time  he- 
fort  the  Jtgning  of  the  preliminaries,  fhe  fiopt  payment  of  the  bills 
draiun  by  her  Comniffaries  in  America.  Britain  atwayt  refilled,  and 
fometimes  "janqui/hed  the  maritime  powuers  of  the  •world,  and  her 
efforts  nvill  bt  as  glorious  in  thi  annals  of  hijlari,  as  her  mofl 
fuccefsfaliuars.  1  he  refources  nuhich  have /upported wwar  fo  difant, 
fo  various,  fo  expenjive,  have  been  Juperitr  to  the  expeHatiou  of 
,  the  mofl  fanguine.  Our  advantage  may  be  fairly  ajcribed  to  the 
firengtb  and  fpirit  of  the  country  :  our  failure,  mare  efpicsalh  in  A~ 
merica,  to  thi  mifindu£i  of  individuals,  and  the  errors  of  Parlirf 
fKtnt, 


-*. 


>.»■  1. 


'"■iiwi ■     un"r;iiii«><iiiiw»aii 


-i«KI 


# 


0 


O  B 


SERVATIONS 


Articles  in  which  there  will  be  Jcarce  aiy 
Competition. 

WOOLLENS. 
T    .v;.  or*.*  and  r.Diwl  article  Great  Britain  will  have  »erf 

:Sd  ob;rsfbu"thrd"ma„"do^h  fupe.fice  cloths  from 
America  wi  1  be  very  inconfiderable,  the  confumpuon  of  that 
«u«tvi.chrfly  under  fourteen  (hilling,  per  y.rd  j  the  quantity 
0?  hofcofahgherpriccbe.,.no   proportion  to  that  of.nyon. 

will  be  no  corope»»on  m  wumuvu  .  j.,.._.,     »,c      The 

Lh  at  cambleis,    callimancoes.    (halooni,  durant.,   Sec      *  no 

fheUnng  of  cloath.,  and  fuch   ufes.  the  l''?"!^,."""^"!"'''.; 

l/veMther  o  made  nothirg  but  fome  very  bungling  and  coarfo 

^   Notion.      Ttleardclc  of  wool  being  from  15  to  "  P"  cent. 

r     r'  in  FraT  e  .hTnt  England,  though  the  price  of  abour  ,, 

low";  yet.  wbilttwool  contfnues  to  be  dear.  «  » ''"'^'y  P°5"« 
hrtcoarfe  cloths,  which  require  .  greater  PJ0P«>"«»^°f  «»»;"';' 
han  o"  bour,  can  be  aflforded  fo  cheap  in  France  a.  in  England  ; 

Ind  it  i.  certain,  that  ail  coarfe  woollens  are  at  thi.  time  at  Icaft  .5 

per  cent,  dearer  in  France  than  in  England. 

Cutlery,  Iron  and  Steel  Manu/a£fures,    of  every 

Kind. 

Which  never  were,  nor  probably  ever  will  be  Imported  to  any 
Whicli  never  were.  »      1^  7,      ^       j      j  ,,,eady  exceed 

rFSct'lo7kl?n"'boSrin  theUfhion  and  finifhing  of  their 

:„^  dteTmanofaftorie.  FrencJ.  -'»V;"/ ^^utfll  .Ko' 
A'  Liei?c  nail,  may  be  had  cheaper  than  in  England,  but  they  alio 
fr;  cluTfy.  and  dJ'^ot  fuit  the  American  marker.  By  h.v.ng  Brrtifli 

rorkr«';any  article,  are  -f  «  -  i^^.^^.r  whic"  "re  Z'h 
but  in  noqu.nt.tits,   except  fcytKes  and  axes,  whicn  « 
belter,  but  bear  near  doable  the  price.  •  rtrctiat» 

•  AT*  branch  of  commtra  is  mr,  inureftingio  «i  th»n  thi  manu^ 


:^SK!^0^~ 


T 


I'WMW^ 


■' 'j  Wnii'"* 


s 


I  have  »erf 

Frince,  to 
I ,  they  fail 
they  have  • 
ugh  feldom 

cloths  from 
lion  of  th»t 
the  quantity 
:  of  any  one 
»eft.  There 
and  quality, 

&c.     The 
[francc   have 
oolleos,  but 
ne  cloths  of 
I  near  30  per 
Netherlands, 
ght  (lufFi  foe 
nanufacturcrs 
ng  and  coarf* 
ao  per  cent, 
e  of  labour  is 
lardly  pollible 
I  of  materials 

ill  England  % 
imeatleall  15 


of  every 


nported  to  any 
already  exceed 
ifliing  of  their 
mfy,  and  bad. 
,  but  they  alfo 
having  Britifli 
a  as  inBuropr, 
lich  are  much 
Ptrctlaiu 

thun  tbi  manM- 

b  a  mtfi  impro' 

fir 


1 


ON      COMMERCE*  jf 

Porcelain  and  Earthen  Ware  of  all  ^alities, 
except  the  mojl  grofs  and  common. 

The  coafumption  of  thii  article  has  been  very  confiderable,  and 
will  increafe.  The  importation  has  been  and  mull  be  made  from 
Great  Britain,  on  account  boih  of  the  quality  and  price.  An  at- 
tempt to  manufaflure  this  article  was  made  at  Fbiladalphia,  but 
failed  ;  it  may  fucceed  hereafter.  Eaft  India  china  is  perhaps 
cheaper  in  Holland  %  t  very  trifling  quantity  ii  ufed  in  America. 
J'yi'*  GLASS. 

ptrdutyt/hrtbi/aki  ef  a  rtvnut.  Thtrt  is  feartt  any  articUi  on 
iMbitb  it  viouli  not  bt  mart  prttdtntly  laid.  Tbi  dyff  tn  foriign  iron 
Sting  46/.  ftr  tin,  unJanbttdty  prfJmtti  tonfiJieably.  In  1781* 
5O1OOO  /M/  "wtrt  imptrtid  fr»m  Rujpa  altni ;  but  tbt  avtragt  im- 
frt»ti§n  ymrlf  from  tbtntt,  dm  not  txtitd  3O1OOO.  //  it  a  duty 
Aewtvtr  vitjbonld  lovjtr  vtry  mutb,  or  ffart  intirtly,  nHwibJland- 
ing  tbt  moment  o/diffitulty  tt  tnr  finuntiirt.  Tbtrtjbontd  bi  no  duty 
•n  raw  maiirials,  7/pttially  in  ibii  ea/t.  Rujfta,  Gtrmanj,  and  tthtr 
tvnntriii  vibicb  bavi  iron  luitbont  duty,  'will  undtrjtl  nt  in  tbt 
mannfaaurt  of  it. 

Tbt  tbtaptr  tbt  raw  mattrialt,  etrtainly  tbt  grtattr  advantagi 
to  tbt  manufaHurir,  and  to  tbt  lountry  ;  and  for  tbt  fait  ef 
Britijb  irom'minti,  wi  Jbonld  not  burtbin  tbt  raw  mattrialt.  Thi 
taints  cannot  bt  an  objtfl  of  fo  much  con/tquinct ;  bejidis  our  iron  is 
inftrior  to  fortign.  Raw  mattrials  art  bttttr  for  us  in  return  tban 
gold  ;  tbty  art  tbtpartntt  of  many  manufaanrtt.  As  tbt  duty  now 
ftandt^  tbt  manufaliwtr  if  nails  in  RuJJsa  might  afford  to  fell  tbtm 
3/.  a  ton  tbtaptr  tban  wt  can,  Ri(0a  mabtt  gnat  quantitiis  for 
homt  confamptiont  »ssd  having  now  takin  off  tbt  duly,  may  faon  grtatly 
mndtrftlmt.  Iron  importtd  into  England  pays  56/.  ptr  ton  ;  iron  iw 
to  Inland  lOi.  ptr  ton  only.  Js  tbirt  is  no  drawback  in  tishtr  count" 
ry  upon  foriign  iron  manufaaurtd.  Inland  can  ixport  at  ^6s.  ptr  torn 
mdvantagt.  Coalti  and  tbt  mtans  ofmanufaSuring,  an  bowtvtr  much 
imfatsour  of  England,  Wt  /houldal/o  takt  off  tbi  duty  on  himp  and 
tar  from  Ruffia,  which  would  greatly  help  our  txpertation  ofcordagi. 
Wt  import  1 5,000  ton  of  htmp  yiarly  from  thinct.  An  advesntagt  in 
raturn  might  bt  txptBid  from  Rujpa,  on  futb  articles  as  Jht gtn  at. 
tbtap  or  tbtaptr  from  otbtr  countrits.  fe 

At  to  nuoolltns,  at  fre/tntr  wt  bavtlofl  tht  cUalhing  of  tbt 
Rtfffian  armf  by  abufes  in  the  manufaSun,  tfpicially  by  t'otrftrttcbing 
tht  cloth  i  tbt  con/equtnct  of  wbick  is, /hr inking  txtrtmtly  wbtn  worn. 
Our  triaty  of  commerce  with  Ruffia  expires  in  1786. 

May  wt  hope  btfort  that  time  our  minifen  will  have  Iti/ttrt^om 
political  ^rugglts,  to  pay  attention  to  that  moft  inltrgfiin^  ^t/k*' 
Our  inttrcourft  it,  and  muft  ivtr  bt,  gnat  with  Ruffia.  She  das  not 
inhabitants  fir  manufafklrtt  \  fit  tanrM  inUrfere  wish  nt  anch  in 

.    tb* 


'¥ 


■-M.JL. 


^i*5*j«>w***^?^3w-*^^ 


irtiW'*"'^  *^^**'^^^f 


TT 


\  >  i 


^ 


OBSERVATIONS. 

..'glass.' 


■•T 


The  importation  of  looking-glades.  drinking-glafle..  and  other 
^Z'lrZ::,  thougU  it  rofc^o^  large  fun,,  bore  no  proporuo.,  to 
fhc  importation   and  confumpt.on  of  window-glafs. -—  t^^^^^ 

the  loSking.gUffes  made  in  Hollaed,  (f"PP"<^=*^  ™"^f J '"/e.hHh 
ie  is  no^rtide  of  glafs  in  any  part  o  Europe  bpt^he  Br.nm 
which  will  .nfwerinthe  Amer^an  mark^et  --— 1  her^^^ 
glafs-works  in  Pennfyl vania.  Bad  glafs  u  .'".^'^^ '"  ^«*- W  ^ 
windows,  hxn  there  is  not  any  quantity  of  glais  '"•^^ '"  ^m"'";," 
yet,  except  bottles.  Hitherto  thefe  manulafture.  have  been  carriea 
on  there  by  German  workmen.  ,    fHfJiiht*: 


S    T    O 


C    K    I    N    G    S. 


ries.  A  confiderablc  quantity  of  coarfe  wotRed  flocking.  »  maac 
ID    America. 

SHOES. 

'  The  importation  of  men's  Ihoes,  except  j"  Virginia  .»d^th« 
Carolinas.'wa.  never  to  any  gj^^^  "aVd  wi  I  be  made  from 
was  and  maft  continue  to  be  ^""^f**!'"":'''/";  *„'  io„  b  Europe 
Great-Britain  only  principally t.  »nt.l  ^°"'' ''^Vj jf "21 «  w^^^^ 
ftall  learn  ^bc  art  of  manufaftu-^g  and  -^^^^^ 
at  prefent,  the  moU  advanced  of  them  "^ /"  ";"".  E„-,ia„d.  be- 
themfelves  in  that  branch.  Soles  are  b;"<=  ^'^^J  ^^^  afford  to 
caufe   better  tanned.  ---  Anier|ca  ha.    .  «    ftock  to  ^^ 

tan  the  leather  as  in  England,  where  it  lays  »»'«  yc 
taS-Jit ;  in  America  they  leave  it  on>  one  yc„.     Upper  leather, 
for  (hoes  are  as  good  in  America  as  in  finglana.^  x  T  O  N  S. 

cannot  fuccud.     Her  pcrts  ^/''^ff^^'^^/J^Si  •vol  U'Vt  fr*^  htr 
by  Ue,Jhe  cannot  ha^emany  fa.lon.     Jf  ^^ll'^  ZjaJr  than  is 

:if/.>Xl    M:^Pt^urn  arLnufaa..,,  ....  ^^^ 
eivn  iron, 

"^^  .onfiierahle  quantity  of  '»''-'-' ^fi'"  ZT^tlnMu) 

.h^sparLlarlyatLynn,fomfcre.po^^^^^ 

huttbt  M,  Juth  »t  talltmanco,\ic,  tbt  btn<ttngM€ti»'ii 

/ram  Britain,  'i^ 


' 


, 


■;■*•«*(»»- 


JW. 


"iimn\,  "i^]'^  


i^WH'i,  "msii^ 


I,  and  other 
proportion  to 
— •  Except 
c  in  France) 
It  the  Britifii 
-There  are 
ew-Jerfey  for 
1  America  a» 
been  carried 

■    .  v3  /«V*''^* 


ican  States  W 
ir  any  propor- 
noft  probably 
iffcrent  count* 
ingi  it  made 


ginia,  and  thi 
of  women's  it 

be  made  from 
tion  in  Europe 
sather  as  well ; 
the  Americans 

England,  bc- 
;  to  afford  to 
t  years  in  the 
Jpper  leathers 

T  T  O  N  S. 

have  not,  a*d 
Miisin  tb$ytar 
I  havi  fritit  htr 
r  favour  tbau  is 
cept  linens,  eomt 
\S»rid,  evtn  htr 


made  in  Uaffa» 
bttlhir  cthnits  ; 
f  m4  /»«««  "** 


W 


m 
'*■• 


■  ■"■'--'      ■ "I  i  i    ""■"Ji«.iii',i'>»w'"'"iaitniwm<iw>j^iipiMWiiami 

fp  ■.■■,.-,.-., 


ON    COMMERCE*  |, 

BUTTONS. 

This  will  be  one  of  the  laft  manufaAnres  which  tlie  Americans 
will  go  into;  and  whilft  Great  Britain  fupplies  great  part  of 
Europe  with  this  article,  it  cannot  be  quellioned  from  whence  the 
Arhericans  will  import  itt 

HATS. 

The  Americans  will  be&ble  to  manufaflure  beavcr>hats  for  them-* 
felves,  which  they  prefer  to  foreign  ones,  though  they  will  not  by 
ahy  means  keep  oat  rain  To  well  as  fine  felt  hats ;  but  the  high  price 
of  wool  and  of  labour  in  the  American  States  moll  induce  them  to 
import  the  felt  and  comolon  hats ;  and  as  wool  is  cheaper  in  Great 
Britain  than  on  the  continent,  the  Britiih  manufaflUrers  muft  bd 
able  to  afford  (hem  cheaper. 

Cotton  or  Manchejier  Manufa^ures  af  ail  kinds. 

Thefe  coIIeAively  form  a  very  capital  branch  of  importation  in 
the  American  States,  and,  except  at  Rouen  in  France,  there  is  no 
confiderable  manufaftory  of  them  in  any  part  of  Europe.  The 
manufaffures  at  Rouen  are  good,  but  they  have  been  hitherto  near 
20  per  cent,  dearer  than  thofe  from  Mancheller,  which  has  givea 
the  latter  the  preference  in  the  Netherlands,  in  Holland,  Germany, 
and  mod  parts  of  Europe,  and  maft  do  the  fame  in  America. 
Though  labour  it  cheaper  in  France,  and  cotton  to  be  had  at  the 
fame  price,  or  cheaper,  the  fuperior  (kill  and  (lock  of  England 
gives  the  great  advantage.* 


WW 


f     HABERDASHERY    ind    MiLLINARY. 

■-  ■  •• 

Pins  and  needles  will  come  bed  from  Britain.  Fine  linen  tapes 
and  fine  thread  are  bell  from  Holland  or  Flanders;  bat  the  com- 
mon Britiih  tapes  are  cheapeft,  and  alfo  all  kinds  of  worded  bind- 
ings, garters,  coarfe  threads  and  Tewing  filks.  As  to  ribbands, 
England  fends  a  great  quantity  to  France,  but,  where  beauty  ia 
not  depending!  Prance  will  have  the  advantage,  confeqaently  ia 
plain  goods,  fuch  as  common  black  ribbands.  Our  ribbands  are 
made  of  Turkey,  Bengal,  and  China  filks,  and  fome  Italian. 
France  will  be  a  competitor  with  us  in  black  modes  and  fattins,  but 
in  perfians  and  farfenets  we  have  the  8d<rantagc.  Gauzes  are  cheap- 
eft  and  bell  from  Britain.  As  America  takes  its  faOiions  from  Eng- 
laad(    millinary  goods  will  go  from  hencti  in  large  quaniiiies,  as 

B 

•  Manthtfttr  goads  art  tarried  from  England  into  FrAnch  and 
there /old  at  French  manu/aaHrt*  .^  .  ^^     „j„.s 


-"*"  1. 


««».iii»i»iiiii"iifiW|ilj    Mwgptgrinwi— 


itds-^ 


Jta;, 


V  A  T  I  O  N  S 


they  have  always  done.  MuHins,  alfo,  will  come  mod  reafonable 
from  Britain.  Manchcder  begins  to  vie  w.th  the  Eaft  Indies  in 
that  article,  and  manufaaiucs  a  large  quantity.  .^..^ 

Tin    in    Plates,    Lead   in  Pigs  and  in    Sheets, 
Copper   in  Sheets,    and  wrought   into  Kitchen 
and  other  Utenji/s, 

The  confumpiion  of  tin  in  fteets,  wroi.gbtin   America,    into 
kitchen  furniture  and  other  articles  and  of  lead  in  P'g«  "^  f  "^j 
for  different  purpofe,.  was  of  conf.derablc  amount,  and  w.H  be  o* 
fliU  of  greater  in  fultue.     Thefe  article,  can  be    had    ro„  G«at 
Britain  only,  to  any  advantage ;  and  though  copper  "'V  P''^ 
be  brought  in  the  rough  cheaper  from  Sweden  than  frorc  En^Und. 
or  the  copper  mines  of  America,  yet  the  «J"'"«[' "^ 'f  °"'  "^^^^^^^ 
America.,  State,  will  lead  the  importer  ^o  porcbafe  the  article  Qt 
copper  wanted  in    America  ready  made  in  Europe,    and,  con 
fcq«n.ly.  the  manufafturer.  in  Great  Britain,  >«that  article,  m^^^^ 
have  the  preference;  and  the  American  «<«»«  have  fo  few  p 4  cle» 
to  fend  to  Sweden,  or  indeed  to  any  part  of  the  North,  that  a     he 
articles  from  the   Baltic  may  be  imported  through  G  eat  Britain^ 
to  greater  advantage  than  dirtily  from  thofe  coontnes.     Thejc 
arc  Sne  lead  mines  iu  Virginia,  near  the  furface,  tiot  Y"  worked, 
or  ID  a  fmall  degree.     There  are  alfo  very  rich  mines  on  the  Ohio 
and  Miififiipi- 


PAIN 


TERS      COLOURS. 


The  dwelling  houfes,  and  other  buildings  in  the  Amencan  States, 

(except  thofe  in  the  citie.)  are  almoa  ""i^/*"^  M  "  Id  nal^tm 
ivhicb  circumftance  caufe.  a  large  demand  for  J'''^" J  ?»'"*"' 
colours.  Oil  15  made  in  the  country  from  the  refofe  of  the  Haxleed, 
taken  out  in  cleaning  of  it  for  exportation;  but  the  ««'«'«  °' 
colouring  muft  be  imported.  The  articles  of  whmng  or  chal^ 
and  white  lead  forms  at  leaft  three-fourth,  of  all  paiot.  a.^ 
being  cheaper  in  Great  B.itain  than  elfewhere,  muft  come  ttom 
thence. 

Cordage  and  Ship  Chandlery. 

The  American  merchant,  prefer  the  cordage  made  in  America 
from  hemp  of  the  growth  of  the  country,  or  imported  from  Ruuia  , 
but  of  foreign  made  cordage,  they  will,  as  far  as  imported,  pie  er 
4he  Btitifb,  and  the  proper  aQortmeut  of  (h.p  chandlery  cannot 


iiii|ipi|_iilMV*t 


P»iP.   i*»i^l«tlJ|^UI. 


^f^^-^ma 


ON      COMMERCE. 


IT 


n  reafonabis 
.ft  Indies  in 


:*■: 


r    Sheets, 
0  Kitchen 


nerica,    into 
rs  and  iheetSy 
ind  will  be  of 
d  from  Great 
may  poDibly 
oic  England, 
labour  m  tlie 
the  article  of 
:,    and,  con- 
t  article,  mud 
fo  few  p'-t5clc» 
;b,  that  all  the 
Great  Britain, 
tries.     There 
It  yet  worked, 
IS  on  the  Ohio 


L  S. 

metican  States, 
built  of  wood, 
1,  and  painters 
ofthcflaxfeed, 
he  articles  for 
liting  or  chalk, 
lU  paint,  and 
ift  come  fiom 


lade  in  America 
;d  from  Ruffia  ; 
tn ported,  prefer 
laudlery  cannot 
be 


t^ 


m 


^: 


be  had  elfewhere.  The  Dutch  cordage  made  for  exportation  is 
by  no  means  good,  being  made  of  the  refufc  of  hemp  and  old 
cables,  bui  tliat  which  is  made  for  their  own  nfc  is  very  good. 
America  manufactures  a  coufiderable  quaniity  of  cordage,  but  at 
lead  imports  from  Britain  one  half.  Ruffia  makes  a  great  deal  of 
cordage  for  exporta"'on,  and  may  become  competitors  with  us  in 
that  article,  if  we  do  not  take  off  or  lower  the  duty  on  hemp  and 
tar,  to  enable  us  to  furnifh  America  cheaper.  We  now  take 
15,000  tons  of  hemp  yearly  from  Ruffia. 

yeiveUery^   and   ornamental,    at  well  as  ufeful, 

\    Articles  in    the    Birmingham    Stile y  Juch  as 

Bucklest     f^atch' Chains,    &c.    &c, 

Thefe  articles  will  be  imported  from  Greit  Britain .  In  Francf, 
they  arc  either  too  coftly,  or  too  badly  defiRiied  and  finifljed,  to 
fuit  the  American  tafte;  whilft  the  Britifli  manufaanres  of  thofe 
articles  have  fo  far  fucceeded,  in  uniting  the  folid  and  ufeful  with 
the  ftjowy  and  agreeable,  as  to  have  the  prefercnc-,  even  in 
Fiance. 

* 

.;    Materials   for   Coach-makersy    Sadler s^  and  • 

UpboljiererSt 

Thefe  articles  mnft  bs  imported  from  Great  Britain,  as  well  as 
all  fuch  of  the  articles  for  houfe  furniture,  which  are  not  manu- 
faftured  in  the  American  States.  The  materials  principally  will 
be  imported.  Upholfttry,  in  many  articles,  is  too  bulky  j  but 
all  that  goes  from  Europe  will  bi  from  England. 

;  MEDICINAL      DRUGS. 

Will  be  imported  from  Great  Britain  in  preference  to  any  other 
country,  00  account  of  the  knowledge  which  the  apothecaries, 
phyficians,  and  furgeons  in  the  American  States,  have  of  the 
method  of  procuring  and  preparing  them  in  Great  Britain,  and 
from  the  fit;>iliatity  of  the  praOicc  of  medicine  and  furgery  in  the 
two  counti  -j. 


STEEL 


in 


BARS. 


At  prefeiit  this  article,  for  all  common  ufes,  is  made  to  good 
profit  in  the  American  States,  but  they  (till  import  a  great  deal  of 
Euglilh  and  German  Heel.  The  Englifh  is  chcapelt,  therefjic 
ia  general  ufed ;  but  the  la:t:r  is  bell. 

INDIAN 


,2         OBSERVATIONS 

INIJIAN       TRADE.' 
r-     J     ;„  cnfral    for  the  Indian  trade,  can  be  had  cheapeft  in 

and   paints. 

,     ^  BOOKS. 

high  there,  and  the  language  continues  ibe  fapic. 

In  the  following  articles  there  may  be  competition. 

't    :  LINENS. 

'of  all  prices,  from  four   (hillings  P- J"^/?- ^  bJt  So« 
.ndlowcrt  price,  are  imporied  into   A""""";  ^^  ^»  Z'^^^^,.       ^ 

that  linens  above  ^^--\^^^Z^::^t.oT^^^^^^^  aL- 

*"  ''2' '  r^  ^»or  a  e  t  e"  iten  manufaaures  of  France  equal  to 
iicao  market;  nor  "«">'=..        .,     f      i„Be  quantities  from 
her    home    confump  ion,    w'^j^^  "1^'   "'  '^^^  l?„ens  of  Ghent,  « 
,,eAuttrian  Net  "Ian  ^  and  G^nna    .  J'^^^J"-,  durable. 

''°;'™/v\"that  acZtb^^  -  goolasthelrifh; 

and  may  on  tnar  Bci^ou"y  «  .         j     j-    j^  ,  n,ji„. 

*^"'  ''^^rotrr^hl";  ^    a>d\rc'Aret:nraccuftome4  to  the 

i„g  or  body  linen      Inih  bneo      «   8^"^^;^. y,"lri,e  fupplie/ 
that  can   be   got  through  F'^njers.     Ame"C    c  ^       r     ^^ 

with  Ruflia  and    German  hnen.   ^^  ..'''"Pj  "her%xpences  here. 


I 


» 


*• 


rfe 


our/A  e«r  /«««  man/aa»rt, 

JhouU  6.  lo^ne^i.   ~ A,  pre/en.  Rfaduck  "  >-^S'/riLl?i!";/'iol' 
W  3/  »  givtn  for  a  put,   that  formirly  /old  Jrm  35^       4^.^ 


t  y^/V^  at  >»■  «^ »'  wUnotinttrfiri 


^stmi^'^^i^-^''^'*'''- 


ON      COMMERCE. 


n 


id  cheaped  iQ 

utlcry,  guiis^ 


America  from 
e  of  labour  is 


ompetitioth 


to  the  coarfeft 
as  but  feldom 
all  quantity  at 
>r  in  the  Ame- 
rance  equal  t9 
[uantities  from 
inensof  Ghent, 
ig  and  durablct 
)d  as  the  Iriih  ; 
J    fuch   a  man- 
uftomed  to  the 
for  their  wear- 
I  cheap  as  ^njr 
not  be  fupplied 
gh  England   ai 
•  expences  here, 
id  drilling.     Of 
o  England  from 
i  made  of  flax. 


tes.  Raffia  had 
ben  charged  with 
r  as  BritiOi  fatl- 
xe  (0/  36  yards) 

ihcr  expcncei.t 
The 

UttenmanfaSurtp 
r  in  England,  that 
rrtm  351.  to  ¥>'- 


The  law  that  obliged  American  P  -pi  to  have  the  firft  fet  of  fails  of 
Britilh  cnii-'as  being  at  an  end,  the  Rufliaduck  only  will  be  iifed. 
It  is  faid  the  Britiih  fail-cloth  is  more  apt  to  mildew,  but  that  may 
be  prevented  in  great  ineafure  by  pickline  when  new.  It  is  alfo 
faid,  that  the  Ruflia  fail-cloth  is  more  pliaole.  France  makes  fail- 
cloth,  but  it  ii  much  dearer  and  inferior.  Some  has  been  made  at 
'^       Philadelphia,  but  the  quantity  mall  be  trifling  for  fome  time* 

PAPER    and    STATIONARY. 

Writing'paper  if  cheaper  in  France  and  in  Flanders  than  in 
Great  Britain  or  Holland  ;  but  there  is  very  little  to  be  met 
with  in   either  of  the  former  countries  of  a  good  quality.     Goo4 

taper  may  be  got  from  Holland.     She    can  underfel    England; 
ut  a  confiderable  quantity  of  paper  and  ftationary  will  continue 
to  be    fr-nt  from   the  latter.    Coatfe  paper  for  newfpapers,  &c. 
is  made  in  America. 

m      '  LACES. 

The  importation  of  the  better  quality  of  Flanders  or  Bruflcls 
lace,  at  it  is  called,  cannot,  for  a  long  time  to  come,  amount  10 
any  thing  confiderable.  The  mod  ordinary  and  low  priced  thread 
lace,  and  the  black  (ilk  lace  for  trimmings,  are  more  immediately 
in  demand  in  the  American  States.  The  thread  laces  are  beft  in 
Flanders  and  Britain.  Although  black  filk  laces  may  be  had  on 
the  bed  terms  at  Barcelona  and  Marfeilles,  confiderable  quantities 
of  the  Britiih  manufacture  has  been  imported  into  America, 

Callicoes  and  printed  Goods, 

Next  to  woollens,  linens  and  cutlery,  this  Is  one  of  (ha  mod 
confiderable  articles  imported  into  the  American  States,  and  is 
there  are  now  large  manufa^ories  cftabliihed  in  the  Netherlands, 
in  France,  in  Switzerland,  and  in  many  other  parts  of  Europe : 
The  price  at  which  thofe  goods  can  be  afforded  in  the  feveral 
countries,  and  the  credit  that  may  be  obtained,  will  deteimine  the 
Americans  in  their  pnrchafes.  England,  it  is  thought,  will  have 
the  advantage  greatly  in  this  branch,  efpecially  in  the  fineil  and 
moll  beautiful  patterns.  Switzerland  manufaflures  thefe  aitides 
as  cheap,  if  not  cheaper  than  any  country,  but  her  fiiuation  is 
^    |>ot  advantageous  for  export  to  America.     France,  during  the  war, 

had 

Tbit  hat  ecca/tcnid  a  great  demand  for  Britijh  /ail-cloth,  •wltizh  hat 
a  bounty  0/  %d per  y/(rd  en  exportation.  The  duty  on  Rujfia  duck 
when  Jhipped,  ii  ahut  2/  ftr  fitce  of  ^Gjards,  ft  ii  tonjidtrablj  tvid' 
fr  than  Englijb,  ^  ■        '■■ 


im 


n 


^  viBra^ 


14  UlSOE''^-*^**"'*" 

had  creat  part  of  iti  white  cottons  for  printing  from  E»g'>"f '  ^"/^ 
her  i«urfe  with  the  Eaft  Indie,  now  opened,  may  enable  her 

to  fopply  herfelf. 

SILKS. 

prefer  a  chintz,  or  callicoe.  to  a  common  fillc.     Light  f.lks  are  not 

'Ta°""^;  SbW  f-rmay  hetaf«^  ^^if,di„  America.  It  is 
Sr  ffLccIctSiii'h  r^ench  in  the  lUi not,  but  it  mud  be  « 
iong  dme  before  it  can  be  ufed  in  manufaftures  there. 


*^ 


SALT    from    EUROPE. 


S'i£.;'i;^'  rirA! 's.lu'f.t/  r.,  b...  ..d  w.» 

India  fait  for  pork  and  butter. 


n 


Tea  and  Eaft- India  Goods  in  generaU 


^    The  amount  colleaively  is  very  confiderable.  -/  *^^5f;^;i';l;: 
ian  underfd  u.,  but  the  te*  rot  be.ng  fo  goodaiourr.  wem 


m 


k 


_  .**t. 


3 


England,   but. 
lay  enable  her 


kind  into  the 
at  ofcaliicoes 
:ced  in  future ; 
nerican  States 
I  little,  except 
en  iiniverfally 
ht  filks  are  not 
her  France  or 
n  the  principal 
Statei.  but  it 
gland.     Black 
lit  to  nearly  as 
ca,  and   thofe, 
id  at  Barcelona 
:at  quantities  of 
ter  and  Spital- 
Siik  bore,  and 
:e,  and  the  more 
tures  of  filk  and 
Manchefler  and 
America.    It  is 
but  it  muft  be  a 
ere. 


I  an  intire  cargo, 
i  are  bulky,  tbofe 
t  will  be  taken 
d  wherever  (hips 
fait  is  to  be  bad. 
I  from  Lifbon  and 
r  beef,  and  Weft 


nerah 


and  thofe  nations 

beft  will  have  the 

inferior  kind,  and 

1  at  ourf ,  we  Ihall 

have 


* 


ON    COMMERCE 


>5 


hare  a  (hare  of  the  trade*.  The  American  States  may  have  EaH- 
India  pepper  from  u»  cheaper  than  cifewhere,  and  they  took  a 
great  quantity  from  us.  China  earthen-ware  is  merely  brought  in 
our  (hips  as  ballaft,  and  to  raifc  the  teas  above  the  danger  of 
wet  J;  it  is  an  article  of  no  coofequence,  and  little  is  ufsd  in 
America.  It  will  hardly  be  her  iniercll  to  go  to  Canton  ;  (he  has 
no  articles  to  fend  there,  or  money. 

S  A  L  T-P  E  T  R  E    and    POWDER.  ' 

In  time  of  peace,  the  iraporlation  has  been  and  will  continue  to 
be  too  inconfidcrable  to  merit  attention  ;  but  it  will  be  imported 
cheaper  than  it  can  be  made  in  America:  From  whence  cheapcft 
remains  to  be  decided. 

LAWNS.  '         " 

The  confumption  of  this  article  is  greater  than  that  of  cambrld, 
and  it  is  a  qut  ion,  whether  courfe  kinds  of  it  can  be  had  ou 
better  terms  in  Flanders,  France,  or  Britain.  Large  quantities 
are  made  at  St.  Quintin,  and  that  part  of  the  continent,  and  alfo 
in  Scotland ;  but  the  finer  kinds  are  run  into  England  from 
:  France  and  Flanders. 

THREAD. 

Great  quantities  'are  made  in  Scotland,  Ireland,  and  Englantl, 
but  there  will  be  a  competition  with  Flanders 

HEMP. 

America  does  not  raife  the  fiftieth  part  flje  confumes.  She  for- 
merly got  it  through  England  and  Holland,  from  the  Baltic,  It  is 
neceflary  to  fcrew  it  down  to  prevent  its  being  too  bulky,  but  in 
confcquence,  it  iiliable  by  heating  to  fuffer  great  damage,  unlcfi 
it  IS  very  well  cured,  put  on  board  dry,  and  kept  fo.  If  not  »t 
weir  be  neceflary  to  unload  it  to  air,  on  fo  long  a  voyage  as  th»t 
from  the  Baltic  to  America.  Some  might  go  unfcrewed.  with 
heavy  articles,  to  make  up  a  cargo,  fuch  aa  cordage  ;  but  America 
has  little  to  fend  to  the  Baltic,  and  a  Cargo  for  America  could  not 
fafily  be  made  up  there. 

•  The  Dutth  navigate  iit  mefi  re/peat  cheaper  than  us ;  but  fo  flow, 
that  in  the  end  there  it  no  great  difference^  '.'  ea  ( BohcaJ  hat  been  at 
lew  at  IS.  4d.  in  Htlland,  'when  in  England  it  was  at  2%.  nd,  and 
js.     the  Dutch  pur  chafe  the  damaged  teat. 

Z  Thtri  art  tfUn  in  Lenden  trden  from  Holland  for  china. 


.^««U 


4. 


Articles  nhhich  cannot  be  fuppUed  by  Great 

Britain  to  Advantage, 

'■       '^    :  W      I      N      E- 

Tl,<.  wine,  confumed  in  America  are  almoft  foldy  Madeira, 
LiSVTa'l  TerrrfF.  and  fome  Sherry  and  *-  "'"j^- 
twentieth,  o^  the  whole  ever  co.fumed  >n  the  A^er.can  Sme  .  The 
quantity  of  Pott  and  claret  wa.  '"«°"f'«''=/='''i';.  .^r^^^^^^^^ 
lill  import  Vines  direftly  from  the  countne.  which  produce  them, 
riwrn  perhaps  ufe  more  French  wine,  'ban  they  d.d  They 
could  not  heretofore  get  them  cheap  ''''""B^?"  "'"a^S 
«„d  Spani(h  wire,  will  be  run  cheaper  throog^t  ''^f.,tX""h 
States.^oth  .0   the  Weft   Iodic,   and   Caj.da.   &c.    J«»  *»'J«'"f^, 

England,  till  the   aft  is  7"»J,^;„*^1  ""i  1? '„  A^e/k^^^ 
through  Britain.     Every  attempt  to    maite  «"r.  ,    ,    ,   , 

failed      The  creat  heat  and  the  rams  are  foppofcd  to  ""'<:'"«'»  ■ 
toious  ve/atl.  that  the  grapes  burft  before  they  are  r.pc 

BRANDIES. 

■•>=^L       V  .  «^«er  been  anV  creit  confumptioft  of  brandy  in  tfii 
There  ha.  never  o""^"/. 8  ,  "^  w^ft  India  rum  can 

American  States,  nor  will  be  fo  I^^g.^'Sop"  people  prtf- ^ 

be  had  at  half  the  price,  ^^.ch  was  the  cafc    and  the  p^^^^^^^^^ 

ferred  it ;  but  the  ^P";;'.';::;"  "^J'  .%  ,wo  ,tte'  »  efpecially.  as 
Spain,  and  Portugal  chiefly  ^"'*^X\Zo^,l  a.,d  of  higher 
,hat  from  Spain  «'"  V""^  n^rcelona  has^fen  200O0  pipeV  of 
proof  than  that    °^F^=^""'     ^""'!"e»  00"    brandL  are  rti.de  in 

s;:  f!;rpe;;he;:  k  if sf rL^  not  good .  mad. 

Irom  apples,  and  malt. 

GENEVA. 

Thi.  article  i.in  Icfs  demand  than  brandy,  and  will  be  Im- 
ported from  Holland  ;  it  may  foon  be  made  .n  America  being 
Siftilled  from  rye.  Reduced  land.,  that  no  longer  will  bear  wbeK 
ot  Indian  corn,  will  bear  that  grain. 

*    Oil,  Railing,  Figs,   Olives,  and  other  Fruits. 

The   importation,    which  i«  not  of  a  capital  amount,  will  He 
chiefly  made  from  Italy,  Spain,  and  Portugal. 


w 


C    A    M    B    R    I 


C    S. 


The  cnnfamption  of  thi.  article  in  the  American  States  i>  not  of 
eqS  vafuetomanyother.;  itcanbehad  on  the  beft  terms  from 
Fsancc  «nd  Auftrian  FlandcM.  Noily 


># 


*~ 


f  8 

)y  Great 


>lely  Madcirai 
were  nineteen 
an  Statei.  The 
rhe  Americtot 
produce  thenit 
ey  did.     They 
ritain.     French 
the  American 
;.  than  through 
»  them  to  paU 
in  America  has 
to  caufe  fiich  ■ 
licy  are  ripe. 


jftrandy  in  tfi* 
n  India  rum  can 
the  people  prtf- 
te  from  France, 
'  ;  efpecially,  as 
y,  and  of  higher 
200CO  pipes  of 
idles  are  made  in 
lot  good  is  mad* 


and  will  be  im- 

America,  being 

sr  will  bear  wheat 


iber  Fruits, 

amount,  will  be 


can  States  ii  not  of 
he  beft  terms  from 


ON    COMMERCE.  ty 

Nearly  all  the  articlci  of  importation  from  Europe  into  the 
American  Statei  are  comprehended  tinder  the  above  general  heads. 
The  principal  part,  at  leaft  four  fifths  of  them,  were  at  all 
times  made  in  credit.  The  American  States  are  in  greater  want 
of  credit  at  this  time  than  at  former  periods.  It  can  be  had  only  in 
Great  Britain.  The  French,  who  gave  them  credit,  are  all 
bankrupts  ;  French  merchants  in  general  cannot  give  much  credit  i 
roaoy  principal  commercial  houfes  in  France  have  been  ruined  by 
'*•  Tj""  ^""^.'*  ''"*  "°'  trufted  the  Americans  to  any  amount, 
and  will  notj  it  is  not  their  euftom  to  give  credit,  but  on  the  beft 
fecunty.  It  is  therefore  obvious,  from  this  and  the  above  Hate  of 
imports,  intowhatchanneli  the  commerce  of  the  American  States 
muft  inevitably  flow,  and  that  nearly  four-fifths  of  their  importations 
will  be  from  Great  Britain  direftly.  Where  article*  are  nearly 
equal,  the  foperior  credit  given  by  England  will  always  give  th« 
preference,  and  it  is  probable,  many  foreign  articles  will  go  to 
America  through  Great  Britain. 

It  is  of  great  importance  to  attend  to  the  exports  from  America 
to  Europe,  to  pay  for  the  goods  imported.  They  confift  of  the 
following. 

The  Produce  of  the  Whale  and  Cod  Fijheries,  viz. 
Whale,  Oil,   Bone,  Fins,  and  Salted  Fijh, 

Whale  oil,  bone  and  fins  were  formerly  fcnt  from  the  American 
Colonies  to  Great  Britain  only,  but  if  permitted  hereafter  to  ba 
brought  from  the  American  States,  our  fiflieriei,  particularly  that 
of  Greenland,  will  be  rained.  The  articles  now  in  queflion  muft 
be  received  by  us  only  in  fiiipi  Britifli  built,  including  thofe  o£ 
Ca'iada  and  Nova-Scotia.  The  whale-fifhery  can  be  carried  on 
frf/m  Nova-Scotia  and  St.  John's  to  as  good,  if  not  greater  advantage 
than  any  part  of  America.  The  Salted  fiOi  from  the  American 
States  found  a  market  in  the  ports  of  Spain  and  of  Portugal,  and 
in  the  Mediterranean,  but  nontin  France  or  any  of  the  northern 
ports  of  Europe.  Little  is  brought  to  England.  The  whole 
amount  of  falted  filh  Tent  yearly  to  the  European  market  from 
New-England,  varied  from  130  to  135,0001.  It  remains  to  ba 
feen  what  turn  this  trade  will  take.  France,  for  the  fake  of  em- 
ploying her  (hipping  and  railing  feamen,  will  make  great  efforts, 
but  America  muft  be  able  to  underfel  and  fupply  Europe,  and 
will  fupply  Spain,  Portugal,  and  the  Mediterranean.  Nova-Scotia 
and  the  fettlements  on  the  galph  of  St.  Lawrence  will  fifli  more 
advantageoufly  than  the  American  Statei,  being  nearer,  coofe- 
quently  at  Icls  expence.  There  are  many  places  on  the  coafts  of 
Nova-Scotia,  where,  at  certain  feafoni,  large  quantities  of  cod 
ate  taken  in  the  ports  by  a  fein,  and  the  fafmou  filhery  in  that 

C  province 


m 


BSERVATIONS 

trofince  *r^i  iV  l!>C  gi.Iph  of  St.  Ltwrencc,  on  tht  Cmd«  "rrd 
{Jo     -Scot-,,  (horcs  •.r«n<,ucflion.bl,  .he  bcU  .n  te  world.    Thj 
Ivh.le  fiftcry  on  the  Ameiicin  coaft  wis  fo  '""'=\"''';'*V^7,  !'' 
S.e  revolution,  th.t  th«  N.w-Eoglanders  wen.  .0  ^h"-'*  °^^A(r.c. 
the  Faolkltnd'i-iflands.    the  weflern   iQands.    and  »J«   "•«   °; 
1  eland,  and   with  confideuble  fi.ccefs  ,    the  oil  or  b  abb  r  wH 
i.A.^  America      If  blubber  it  wa»  maniifaaured  into  ot  .  and 
ZZtl  fc"r,hc  bS  marke.  it  i.  obviou,  that  thU  trade  can 
i  ctrrfed  on  .0  greater  advantage  .0  '''r-b^j;""-  J^P'"" 
from  Britain  and  Irelaod,  than  from  ^^""^rie  fmal^o.V  !« 
«ill  be  avoided.    The  reduftion  or  taking  off  the  f"» "^"'V.  7 
-SI    .Bd  the  heavy  doty  on  fpermaceti  imported  in  Bri.i(h  Ihips, 
«d  e"avi  g  the  diie.  oi;  what'^^s  brought  from  »;»;•«  Jrmft^^^^^^^^^ 
Tn  will  be  a  proper  encouragement.  The  quantity  Of  fpermaceti 
imported  as  fuch  it  fmall. 

F  L  O  U  R    and    W  H  E  A  T. 

'This  article  hai  been  of  equal,  if  not  of  greater  importance  ini 

of  It  not  being  very  wniie,  '""  v  r  .  ,  '  _*  magufaaunng 
in  grain,  the  Sp.nifb  P-'Ch'f"  h-d  '^«  •»;•";;«;  ^^^^^^^^^  b.1 
it.'and  there  »«'"|; . J^^^i^j^Jh S" t^^^^^^^ 

"".^  '•  ,*"  ,r;'AMnart  ea^oTbothturan^^  Lmer  iheat  were 


'm^^ 


■a»jR^*HP 


"mmm 


Canada  and 
world.    Th« 
laufted  before 
oift  of  Africa, 
the  coaft  of 
blabber  wae 
into  oil,  and 
thii  trade  can 
ntioned  placca 
doable  voyage 
fmall  duty  on 
I  Brttilh  ihips, 
te  Britlih  colo- 
f  of  fpermaceti 


importance  in 
It  excepting  the 
any  market  in 
xcepi  in  Spf.ln, 
Before  the  war, 
n  Spain,    It  ii 
>  ufually  Tent  in 
;|,  yet  the  flour 
cheaper.     Being 
)f  manufafiuring 
low-priced,    bni 
in  the  American 
tagea,  and  they 
nada  previous  to 
nmer  wheat  were 
which  above  loo 
fent  in  floor  and 
}o  buflieli  left  in 
rfix  yeara,   3  or 
IFerent  braoche*. 
the  corn  country, 
bentfe  10  Burope. 
I  with  fleor  and 
limel  of  (earcity, 
North  America 
ing  out  have  no- 
'  and  fait. 

Naval 

gt  btr  agritullMfi* 
liktlj  t»  bavt  mtft 

•f 


ON      COMMERCE.  ^ 

Navai  StoreSt  viz.   Pitcbf  Tar,  and  Turpentine. 

Thefe  articlei  were  exported  principally  from  North  Carolina, 
and  to  Great  Britain  only  1  for  without  the  bounty  given  by 
Parliament  they  could  not  have  been  exported,  and  as  the  fame 
encouragement  cannot  be  given  in  future,  the  Amcricann  will 
fcarcely  be  able  to  carry  thofe  articles  to  any  European  market. 

Naval  Aores  from  Carolina,  before  the  war  would  barely  pay 
freight  with  the  affiAance  of  a  bounty.  If  the  price  Ihould,  how- 
f /er,  keep  up  as  it  has  done,  during  the  war,  they  may  ftilj  come 
'ttom  thence  ;  but  that  cannot  be  expe^ed.  None  can  be  made 
:o  advantage,  or  in  any  quantity  but  in  North-Carolina,  where  the 
fkndy  poor  foil  towards  the  Tea  produces  the  pitch-pine. 

Turpentine   comes  from  the  fame  part,   from  a  difTerrnt  tree, 

which   is  chiefly  to  be  found  in  that  State  ;    Tar  was  from  4  ta 

'    js.  fterling  per  barrel  of  32  gallons,  pitch  and  turptutine  nearly 

double  the  price.     The  bounty  on  tar  was  more  than  the  original 

price,  vix.  5s.  6d. 

The  Baltic  had  a  monopoly  of  thefe  articles  before  the  bounty 
was  given  on  American  naval  (lores  ;  the  bounty  of  cuurfe  reduced 
the  price  confiderably,  but  naval  Acres  from  the  B.i'ticareofa 
fupeiior  quality. 

Mafts  and  Spars  for  the  Navy,  and  for  Merchants 

Ships. 

The  timber  fuitable  for  mafts  and  fpars,  is  not  found  in  North 
America,  fonth  of  41  degrees  uf  latitude  t  this  i»  a  fa^  well  af- 
certained,  Where  this  fpeciei  of  timber  fails  eflentially,  or  en- 
tirely to  the  northward,  has  not  been  precifely  afcertained,  but 
it  is  generally  agreed,  that  north  of  48  degrees,  no  quantity  is  to 
be  found  in  any  degree  of  perfection.  The  mafts  and  iptrs  fiirmer> 
ly  fent  to  Europe  from  America,  were  procured  in  the  northern 
parts  of  New  England,  but  they  have  been  gradually  cut  near  to 
water  carriage,  and  are  daily  becoming  mora  fcarce  and  more 
difficult  to  be  got  in  the  Amsricaa  States,  Whilft  the  forefts  of 
Nova  Scotia  and  Canada,  abounding  in  timber  uf  that  kind,  re- 
naiB  untouched.  All  that  is  near  Lake  Champlain  muft  gadown 
the  river  St.  Laateaco.  New-York  and  Philadelphia  were  Tup- 
•  .  plied 

tftbtean  trad4  wUth  Bmglani  had.  1»  <utar  time,  tbi  imptrtaiitn 
tfjhurfitm  Amirita  hat  m/aaify  iitm  alUvttd  into  the  Frtncb  iflandt. 
iut  in  ptaci  it  it  pnhHitiJ  both  i«  lit  Duteb  aad  Frinch  ftttlimtnti^ 
A  ^ijjil  having  lolb.  tniight  of  fi»ur  in  any  of  thtir  part*.  •woitU  bt 
ctnp/eattJ,  The  flour  thi  Frtncb  got  from  Anurica  camt  through  fomt 
frit  ftrtf  ixetpt  tbt  fmall  quamisj^  that  inat  fm»ggl$J. 


#t 


'^iiiamia^ii'tmi  "Hjiia'iiiMiiiik 


4/ 


20  OBSERVATIONS 

plied  prlncipilly' from  the  province  of  Main*  and  Nov*  Scoih, 
alihoiigh  there  u  a  coi.f.daable  quantity  ot  mafli  "<!/?««  up  the 
Hudfou'i  River.  Ibe  Dclawire,  ChcfapeaU,  tnd  S>»g« '•»"•• 
but  they  ire  of  .n  inferior  kind,  not  Urge  »nd  more  difficult  lo  be 
got  :  the  inh.biiii.ti  have  other  employment.  BtUaia  hit  iti 
Bceataod  bell  malls  principally  ftom  tlie  Baliic  •. 

Pipe-Staves  and  Lumber  in  general 

ThU  wai  a  confiderablc  article  to  Spain  and  to  Porti.gal,  and 
to  fome  other  parts  of  Europe  ;  as  alfo  to  Madera,  and  the  other 
wine  iOandi  and  countries ;  but  the  bell  timber  for  thefe  purpofei 
i.  to  be  found  in  Canada  and  Nova-Scotia,  and  the  forefts  in  ihofe 
countries  have  been  hitherto  almoll  untouched:  «^«y  «'»  be 
foni.H  for  a  long  time  to  come,  inexhauftiblc,  whilll  limbec 
Has  alrcuU  become  fcarce  in  moft  of  the  American  btates.  and  m 
the  middle  and  fouthward  provinces,  it  1=  not  0/  fo  good  a  quality. 


FLAX 


SEED. 


This  anlcle  was  exported  from  the  American  States  to  Ireland 
only  :  no  other  country  in  Europe  is  in  want  of  it.  nor  can  Ire- 
land be  futnilhed  with  it  to  fo  pood  advantage  from  any  oth«c 
part  of  the  world  .  for  though  it  may  be  had  from  Hander.  f. 
and  in  the  Baltic,  it  is  of  an  inferior  quality  and  dearer,  and  rouft 
be  paid  for  in  money,  inllcad  of  linens,  which  arc  exchanged  foe 
it  in  America. 

IRON     and    P  O  T  -  A  S  H. 

Every  part  of  north  America  abounds  in  Iron  mines,    but  from 
the  high  price  of  labour  in  the  American  States  iron  "«'d^n« 

'•  Amwitan  mafli  an  much  in/irior  ta  tht/t 'which  tomt  from 
RU»,  andthi  Emprt/i  ha,  laUlj  alU'wtd  ma/li  to  h,  tut  dfwn  on  th, 
Jm,  •/  tbi  ndUu  "nd  »xport,d  from  Petnfiurg;  but  tbtlargi/l 
and  bift  comt  from  Turkey  and  Poland ;  thar  gratn  u  much  cU/,r. 
J  mail  from  tb$fi  coumtriii,  of  22  inches,  it  equal  1 0  an  Amrtcam 
fnaft  of  24  imhu.  7hiy  may  bt  tbojenfrom  ih,  wodsat  tin  dollar,,  or 
abWso  I  each  ;  the  carriage  coji,  xoo  dollar.,  they  ate  carded  a- 
sainftiheflreamcfthe  Dniper  to  the  head,  and  over  land  ato-ve  30  mt/es 
lo  the  head  of  the  ri-ver  Dwina  ;  there  is  a  hea-vy  duty  at  Rsga.  In 
time  of  war  the  freight  is  very  extravagant ;  and  the  largeft  maJU 
^henthey  arrive  in  England,  nvill  eojl  from  In^t  ,0  three  or  four 
hundred  founds. 

+  The  feed  it  very   indiftrint  there,   becaufe  the  flax  it  fulltd 
'wbilt  green,  for  the  fake  of  having  it  finer  and  better. 


r  il 


__Jft...       ■,i.„:.,^5»^v 


wmmm 


i"f  lip" 


''mmmiH 


mm 


r  3 

Nova  Scotia, 
fpari  up  th« 
Sulqucliinna, 
difficult  10  be 
liitaia  hit  ill 


PorHigal,  and 
and  the  other 

thcfe  piirpofci 

forclls  in  tbofe 
they  will  be 
whilll  limbec 
Statest  and  in 

;ood  a  quality* 


itttB  to  Ireland 
i)Or''can  Ire- 
from  any  othti: 
n  Flanders  ft 
larer,  and  muft 
exchanged  foe 


lines,    but  from 

iron  could  not 

have 

ibicb  come  /rem 
cut  dttun  en  tht 
;  but  tht  largt/l 
n  it  much  clo/ir, 
'  to  an  American 
at  tin  dollars,  or 
ny  art  carritti  a- 
nd  abovt  30  mills 
uly  at  Rigct.  In 
tht  largtfl  maftt 
)  to  thru  or  Jour 


the  jlax  is  pulhd 
ittir. 


ON     COMMERCE 


21 


have  been  rxpoti  1  without  {ht  AJvantnge  of  entering  free  into 
Biitiin  ill  '  ompetition  wiiH  foreign  tji>n,  which  p.iy  j6(.  per  ton. 
Canada  ha«  |  ^nty  of  iro.>  minL-s,  The  quantity  of  iron  made 
in  Riiiain  by  uu,in«of  pit  coai,  oiCTe-ifca  very  greatly,  and  will 
decicafe  importation*.  l^t-aOi  may  b:  ifnide  to  grr^ter  advaniagt 
in  Nuva-StJtia  und  Canada  tliiin  cllcwhrrc  io  4  Ti^rica,  on  ac< 
count  ut  the  quantity  of  wood  burned  there  tj  clear  the  cuuuuy. 

TOBACCO.  •        vi     . 

Thii  capital  article  was  exported  from  Virgin's  and  Maryland  to 
Ctca'.  liriiain  only,  where  it  was  Totted  and  re-expoticd  unmanufac- 
tured, except  a  (mall  quantity,  Tlic  exportation  being  now  tree  to 
every  part,  it  remains  to  be  determined  by  experience,  if  it  be  more 
advantageous  to  tranfport  it  to  every  country  where  it  ii  confumed, 
or  to  carry  it  tirft  to  one  general  market  to  meet  the  purchafers. 
it  will  be  lent  in  Urge  quantities  in  return,  or  payment  foi  our 
manuf.id^tures,  and  wc  can  afford  to  give  the  bell  price  in  this  man« 
ner,  by  taking  it  in  return.  The  fird  price  is  from  one  id.  half* 
penny  to  2d.  pe>  p  und,  fcldom  lower;  duty  in  England,  is.  3d. 
in  France  ;  the  whole  is  monopolized  by  the  farmcrs-geneml. 
America  will  not  afford  her  tobacco  fo  cheap  to  France,  as  the 
laitfr  got  it  ihroueh  OritiOi  contractors  before  the  war  f.  The 
confumption  of  t()bacco  in  Britain  and  Ireland,  was  abotit  20,000 
hogflieads,  near  8000  of  which  me  fuppofed  to  have  been  fmuggled. 
Britain  imported  the  five  or  fix  years  before  tlie  war  between  99,000 
and  100,000  hogOieads,  and  only  manufactured  for  her  own  con- 
fumption. France  is  fuppofed  to  cnnfumc  from  20  to  24,000 
hogmeada,  about  19  or  20,000  of  which  came  from  America. 
The  ufe  of  tobacco  has  declined  in  England  and  America.  One 
thoufand  tonsofiobacco  was  exported  laft  year  from  Peterfburgh,  and 
about  joo  tons  from  Riga  and  otiicr  parts  of  Ruflia;  it  rliiefly  went 
to  Lubecit  and  Holland ;  a  cjofiderablc  part  was  returned  manufac- 
pred.  A  large  quantity,  (the  growth  of  the  Ukraine)  during  'lie  ivar, 
went  to  France  through  Holland,  &c.  Ruflja  fupplied  berfelf,  but 
the  confumption  i»  not  very  grea>:  there.  Hamburgh  had,  for  com- 
mon ufe,  from  Germany,  and  fome  from  England.  A  confiderablc 
quantity  is  raifed  in  Brandenburg,  on  the  Rhine,  in  the  Palatinate, 
Flanders  and  Holland.  Flanderi  grows  more  tobacco  than  (he  coa- 
fumes.  Virginia,  during  peace,  will  fupply  better  and  cheaper  thau 
thefc  couniries. 

The 

t  Franci  will  he  much  di/appeinteJ.  The  cultivation  of  tobacco 
has  bun  grfatljf  inltrrufited  ;  it  luitl  ne<vir  be  fo  gnat  as  it  has  bitn 
Thin  has  and  -will  be  a  ctnfsdenbli  imigration  from  the  tobac<o 
equntry.  Tbi  lands  nvtar  out.  Beitir  land hiond  the  mountains  muf 
he  got  "jfy  chea^,  and  fret  from  lavs.  Other  kind  0/  farming  it 
f  refer  ted. 


M 


^ 


1 


~^-<»lBai|iisiiiiiiiiiiiftti'iuii  •"iinTif     I 


p»r?~e?sse«nl|»^ 


k 


m  (■ 


OBSERVATIONS 

The  Baltic  vwll  not  take  a  great  quantity.  European  tobacco  will 
be  much  better  under  proper  cultivation  and  management,  la 
America  tobacco  is  dried  in  a  houfe :  In  Earope,  the  flavoor  i. 
Txhaled  by  drying  in  the  fan  ;  at  leaft  a  fufficient  quantity  night 
be  mM  in  Europe,  though  perhapi  not  of  the  beft  quahty, 

FURS     and    PELTRY. 

Previouito  the  reduftion  of  Canada,  the  exportation  was  very 
confiderable  from  the  American  States  j  but  fince  1763  it  has  been 
of  no  Rreat  corfequence.  What  it  may  be  m  future  u  is  as  yet  un- 
certain.  Probably  the  trade  will  he.  divided.  The  old  channel  that  1. 
Quebec,  will  have  the  advantage,  efpecially  as  Britain  furmlhe. 
Indian  goods. 

SPERMACETI    CANDLES. 

A  confiderable  and  encreafing  "P"*  ^^-^-i^^^iV^ian  w'eft 
to  feveral  countries,  but  particularly  to  the  Bntilb  tnJ  foreign  Weft 

India  iflauds. 

I  N  D  I  G  O    and    R  I  C  E.  »• 

•No  part  of  the  American  States  produces  thefe  f  i^J".  *>»»  J* 

Carol.nas  and  Georgia;  t  «  "'J^  *»  h^t  tl^e  fJ^Ll" nlv 
may  anfwer  in  almott  every  part  of  Europe  ;  but  'J'  f°'™«  ""Jj 
in  ihe  BOthern  parts,  including  Great  B"ta.n  and  Ire  and  The 
Quantity  however  of  North  American  indigo  that  goes  to  the  B.  tic 

?.  Sfliag.  The  Spaniards  ?^«yg«  V"VLe  Sncfal  0 Iff^ 
from  Sooth  America  the  beft  m  t:«  world.  The  French  aHo  raiw 
a  la"ee  quantity  in  their  Weft  India  iflands.  which  is  much  better 
?ha"  the  n!  go  of  the  American  States.  From  the  latt«8  great 
quantiVy  is  fe^t  to  England,  and  muft  be  t,ken  ,n  return  for  goodu 

Ships  built  for  Sale  or  the  taking  of  Freight, 

The  bufinefs  of  building  (hips  for  Sale,  in  Great-Britain,  or  the 

taking  of  ftieghtfthere.  ori  th?  Weft-Indies,  was  both  confiderable 

and  frofitlbll     American-built  (hips  have  ^ot. hitherto  been  in 

dema^nd  in  any  partof  Europe,  except  in  G^f^'^Sh"  elf  S^ 

nor  have  thev.  but  in  few  inftances,  ever  obtained  freights  eliewftere, 

tUn  inVhSingdoms.  and  in  the  Bri.i[hWeft4nd.e,       American 

ftip.  for  falc  are  not  fubftantial  or  well  built :    The  timber  not  o< 

TaLg  as  that  of  Britifti  (hips,    [inatcanb,  hemr  *^-nMM*ftU 

.  .  1        /^  V-..  *  1     It  is  evident  that  this  trade  can  never  taw 

pStV'wl.»ron^h'e"crnUnent  t,   the    North  of  France. 

Glance  Fob^ly  will  not  fuffer  America  to  fupply  her  witb^lh.ps. 

'  .V-     > 

t  "Tht  country  on  th  MiffiMi  'voiU  frcJuce  mutb  bitur  indigt, 
Mr.  J  Jufficitttt  tojupplj  tht  vibolt  VJtrU. 


«»* 


#■ 


.  sLmi 


*     H. 


iS'^^'-'       /.ifcijeW 


.--l^^ltCr^'  Jf't'.i'^i^lttMld^-.'  'fliU   N&J^-'- 


II  tut  il|IH.ill|l> 


ii|«ii;|niij».i.iji,|imi|mwi[y)  .  iwi«ii4.,^im|)j,w»  y 


^  s 

ID  tobacco  will 
nagemcnC.  In 
ihe  flavour  ii 
quantity  night 
^aality. 


tation  was  very 
^63  it  has  been 
;  it  is  as  yet  un- 
1  channel  that  is 
ritain  furnilhei 

L  E  S. 

[othern  Coloniei 
nJ  foreign  Weft 


articles,  but  the 
>f  the  lad  article 
:  the  former  only 
I  Ireland.  The 
i;oes  to  the  Baltic 
ians,  get  indigo 
French  alfo  raif* 
:h  is  much  better 
the  latter  e  great 
tetoro  for  goods* 

jf  Freight, 

:at>B ritain,  or  the 
both  conGderable 
hitherto  been  in 
itain  and  Ireland ; 
freights  elfewhere, 
idies.     American 
Phe  timber  not  of 
nr  than  MulbtrfJt 
dc  can  never  take 
fJorth  of  France. 
)ly  her  with  Ihips. 
Britaia 

much  ittltr  iniigit 


ON      COMMERCE. 


«3 


Britain  cannot  take  her  (hipping  without  ruining  her  own:  She 
mull  confidcr  them  as  foreign-built  fliips;  and  if  ihe  encourages 
fliip-buildings  in  Canada  and  Nova-Scotia,  it  is  to  be  expefted 
that  (hip-building  for  Tale  in  the  American  States  will  be  lefTened, 
if  not  entirely  (topped  for  ?t  time.  *  Such  encouragement  will 
draw  the  Tailors  from  New  England,  raife  many  in  Canada;  and 
that  province  will  become  a  very  confideiablc  nurfery  for  feamen. 

The  above  Articles  comprehend  nearly  the  wbvle 
of  the  exports  from  the  American  States^  of  the 
growth  of  the  country, 

Ibe  Articles  imported  by  the  American  States 

from  the  IVeJi  India  Iflands  and   fettlements  in 

general t  were  the  following  viz, 

SUGARS.      '  '  : 

The  difference  of  price  between  French  and  Britith  Weft  India 
fugar  was  fo  great,  that  above  two-thirds  of  the  fugar  imported  into 
America  come  from  the  foreign  iflands,  and  cheaper  notwithfland- 
ing  the  duty  on  the  foreign  of  5s.  per  hundred  ;  the  greateft  part  waa 
regularly  entered. 

That  which  was  fmuggted  into  America  is  computed  to  have  in- 
curred an  expence  equal  to  half  the  duty,  belides  the  expenceof 
getting  it  in  a  clandedine  manner  from  the  French  iflands  and 
Surinam  f.  France  will  not  fulFer  the  American  States  to  carry 
Togar  from  her  ports  in  the  iflands,  notwithllanding  the  conne£lioa 
now  betwen  them. 


•  //  is  Jiffitub  to  fei  vihat  advantage  thi  Ntvo-EnglantI  Staitt 
will  dtrivifram  tie  indtpindtnct  and  Jtparatien  from  this  country. 
Such  lights  at  we  have,  point  out  that  it  muft  it  ruinous  to  thtm, 
mnd  that  nothing  tould  bt  mort  to  thtir  advantage,  than  to  hieomt 
again  fart  of  the  tmpirt.  It  is  net  obvious  nvhtrt  they  will  find  a 
Market  for  their  pipping,  lumber,  and  the  product  of  the  whale  fijhtrit: 
fvnd  tbej  had  no  other  trade  of  any  tonfequence  except  fait  fijh J  in  the 
tfaceof  the  markets  of  the  Wefi  Indies,  Great  Britain,  and  Ireland. 

t  //  is  clear  from  this,  that  tur  fugar s  will  not  bt  taktn  for  con- 
/^mpiion  r'tt  Iht  American  States,  and  that  they  only  mtan  t«  be  car- 
riers elfewhere,  i/pirmilttdttgo  te  tur  ijlandi. 


% 


*%* 


M 


¥ 


J  ■  i 


OBSERVATIONS 

MOLASSES,    or  S  Y  R  U  P  S. 

Which  arc  of  «.v  creat  importance  to  rhe  Ante.ican  States,  ort 

Wliicn  arcoi  »ei.v  i,i     ■•nif  ;,.     anM  the  exienfive   commerce, 

accoant  of  the  """"^'""/.^'"'''"'"'./"J/oAhcm.  were  purchafed 

carried  on  by  rnears  of  the  '"■"^"^^g^;,  ""'f;/^  .h^  French  iQand,, 

«d  imported   into   i'^^  Amct.can  S     es  f;^m  the   r  , 

and  from  Surinam,  in  great  quantities.      \"e    "['"  ^  f„,„ 

ifland*  prudently  diail  their  o*n  molaffcs,  and  export 
quantity.  •  »,  • 

.  RUM. 

The  amount  of  thi.  article,  imported  and  ^^f^^l^^  ^  ^^ 
UnTted  States,  greatly  --"//"^J^/^n^w-E  gland  S  'teS^;  it  :« 
Well-India  Fod""  ''"?;'«*'  "j^^'^.hat  of  molaffe.  excepted  s 
more  than  equal  to  every  other  f  *"''«»  *"",.,..  .  _,„  w»i  re-ex- 
with  this  circumftance,  that  ''^ '^' '>'^""'f"^\g'' I" ^ 
ported.  particuUrly  'He  ru™.  made  out  of  '^^^^'f^JJ/J:  %^, 
,ft  part  of  which  was  fent   to  Afnca.  to   in  ^^^^  ^^^ 

foondland.  and  to  Canada*.     .«"t   'he  '"«>       p  ^  ^^^^^ 

lity.     They  do   not  encourage    the  maKing  oi    i-iu ,  e 

interfere  with  their  brandies. 


C      O 


FEE. 


c  .1 :.  -rtJrle  was  fo  very  inconfiderable  in 

COTTON. 

was  never  imported  in  any  ^J^f o^ rmt'"-^^^^^^^^ 
„,  demand  for  it.  except    f^'j!';,^;^;^,^^!!^  Weft  Indie,. 

ti;-s:jin^TV3;aJ/|S^^^^ 

their  plantations  :  it  will  be  run  from  thence. 

Indigo, 

*  The  diplUn,  cf  fplrU,  frm   «r«  ^.^  *'"«'  "  i^'-'  *->'-^ 
i«  C<i»a</<a,  grain  bting  cbeof. 


r 


;sp;v^ 


SI  s 
s, 

lean  States,  ort 
ve  commerce, 
vere  purchaf«d 
rencli  iilands, 
Ih  Weft  India 
sport  a  fn>»II 


»-* 


I 


'WiP> 


.iJilW.  .       I.. 


ON      COMMERCE.  35 

Indigo,  Cocoa,    and  a  few  other   Articles     of  no 
great  Valuer         ".' 

Were  in  much  the  fame  degree  of  importance  with  coffee  and 
cotton,  and  were  purchafed  and  imported  in  nearly  the  fame 
manner.     Cocoa  was  more  confiderable  than  the  other  articlea. 


T. 


ifumed  in  th«s 
article  of  the 
i  States ;  it  wa» 
afle*  excepted  : 
1  part  wai  re-ex- 
iffes,  the  great* 
:otia,  to  New- 
poited  from  the 
except  a  fmall 
irery  indiiFerent 
:i(h  Weft  India 
Bt  of  a  bad  qaa« 
rum }  it    might 


Inconfiderable  in 
proportion  to  the 
ne  manner  from 
(Teflions. 


tity,  there  being 
i!y    manufaAurei 
itifti  Weft  Indies, 
The  demand  wai 
eft  of  commerce, 
nd  are  incrcafiog 


IndigOt 

mt  a  gnat  hufimfi 


A  great  part  of  the  fait  confomcJ  in  the  American  Stitet 
efpecially  for  butter  and  pork,  was  imported  from  the  fait  iflands 
in  the  Welt  Indies ;  but  the  planters  had  no  concern  with  it;  it 
wasnoproduclion  of  their  labour,  but  of  the  heat  of  the  fun,  and 
was  colicacd  by  the  Bermudians,  and  fold  at  a  low  price  to  the 
Alps  from  the  continent;  and  not  unfrequently  the  crews  of  the 
ftiipi  colieaed  it  themfeives,  and  were  at  no  other  expencc  thaa 
their  labour.  i 

The  Articles  exported  ta  the  Wefi  Indies   were  thi 
following,     viz,  j^ 

H  O  k  S  E  S     for  the  Saddle,  v* 

•    Came  from  New  England  on  the  bell  terms,  and  may  be  fupplied 
through  Nora  Scotia, 

Horfesfor  Draught  and  for  the  Sugar- fP'orks, 

Areeff'enually  necfffjryinthe   Windward  iflands,    and  can  be 
had  from  Canada  on  better  terms  than  from  any  other  country.* 
[Thty  are  not  fit  for  fugar  vierkt,  an  too  heavy  and  require   much 
feed,  mulet    an/wer  better.'] 

WHEAT 

• 

•  U  might  anf'wer  to  fe«d  horfei,  ij^cr  i^anda  half  hande  high, 
/ram  Britain,  but  efpecially  from  Ireland  to  the  Wefi  Inditi,  if  carried 
en  the  deck  tn  the  fame  manner  at  done  by  the  Amerieani.  They  <wiil 
fell/rom  lol.  to  15/.  advantage  each  her/i.  It  might  cofi  left  than 
cne  third  more  to  carry  a  horfe  from  Ireland  than  it  does  from  America, 
A  fingle-dtckti  veffel  of  loa  tons  tarries  40  horfes  on  deck  from 
Canada  to  the  WeH  In  iies.  The  carriage  of  each  horfe  from  Canada 
camt  tt  about  iLfitrling,  and  provijiani  301. 

D 


t* 


•«• 


'ite^rTT^r- 


w> 


I'i 


,ti 


jl       OBSERVATIONS 

.  •  WHEAT. 

Ha.  for  fever.1  years  p.ft,  tni  pievioo.  to  the  war,  beeo 
Cheaper  in  Canada  than  in  the  Amciicaa  Statei. 

Salted  Beef,  Salted  Pork,   Butter,  Candles,  and 

Soap, 

No<iaa„tUyofb«fw..expojed^o-^^^^^ 

i?b^?S  ci:«  ^^^^^^^^^^ 

fyWanii  ii  not  good.    CoDMa^^cutrtppu^^^^  ^^ 

American  St»te..    Thj  Southern  StjesmaM       X  ^^ 

f.lt«d  beef;  they  have  but  few  ^JjP*  ^^Vfr*^^^  Carolina, 

fed  on  Indian  porn  "d  "^«-  ^"^  jj'  1*^^  1%Lm  and  lean , 
and  Georgia  great  herd,  of  <*J«  •«  ^''J  ^j  2,  ^i„teri  cnablea 
they  run  wild  u.  the  woods.    Jh' »JJ««»  «*  ,„  ,fcei„. 

them  to  live  withont  ««P«"«'7.»'*  [«"'*;  Sl  'heir  home  confttinp- 

;rn«Tnd%T:itrpero„.     whod^^^^^^^ 

'^ir*''^n/;rthV«^twhy't  P«t  of 

of  .  demand  may  be  » J|  "u  e  wny  i^pjced  the  breed 

oftheCarohna..nd  Georgu  J^  ^^P.^  .ttentiooha. 

of  cattle,  and  f**"?''' ';;«'  Irticles-  rice,  indigo,  tobacco,  and 
been  given  to  their  fltple  ^'"X"  "„  \*he  bafk  coootry,  iheic 
lodian  corn :  b««>«7"8  «"  P/"«*i;^he„  Sere  is  .  &cient 
feem.  lobo  ««»'«"8 '"^P^'  ,\  i.  nS  long  fince  they  difcovered 
demand  in  the.r  f«*r"-.  '^.^eS  Norfh"r«  neighbour.,  and 

Ativiii  tr0lhkrt*f]  -.vbe  imported   cheapeft  and 

of  the  mautime  countriei  of  Ettiopc.  The  foiithetn  ptiw  r^ 


mmi^ 


1 


O  N    C  O  MM  E  R  C  E 


27 


the  war,  beea 

arises,  and 


ay  but  Connec- 
,  RhodC'ifland. 
Jerfey.    There 
I  fouih  of  Peon- 
han  all  the  other 
ry  little  nfe  of 
I  their  flaves  arc 
>f  the  Carolina* 
Anall  and  lean ; 
I  winters  enablei 
nany  ia  theia- 
home  confunp' 
ir  a  guinea  or  • 
0  Pcnnfylvaniat 
ket.    The  want 
the  back  part  of 
proved  the  breed 
kelr  attentioobaa 
go.  tobacco,  and 
:k  coontry,  there 
lere  is  a  uifficient 
t  they  difcovered 
neighbours,  and 
inters  being  mild, 
fu'ly  grown ;  and 
per  ceat.  cheaper 

in  future    fupply 
clatter  principally 

as  the  Irilh}  fait 
mtthis!  hit  til 
wml  •/  V* '-  *l>* 

[led  cheapeft  and 
where  the  falting 
world.  Cattle  arc 
Bland,  than  in  any 
irn  parts  of  Eiirop* 
arc 


are  not  good  pafture  countries  for  cattle  ;  and  in  the  northern  the 
great  feverity  of  the  winters  give  England  and  Ireland  the  Advan- 
tage. Tlie  countries  that  can  raifo  and  feed  cattle  the  cheapell, 
can  in  general  afford  to  underfel  others  alfo  in  the  articles  of  but- 
ter, candles,  and  foap.  Not  long  fince  butter  was  imported  into 
New  York  from  Irelund  ;  but  before  the  war  began  New- York 
exported  butter  to  the  Weft  ladies  j  but  it  does  not  keep  by  any 
means  fo  well  as  the  IriOi. 

The  fouthern  flates  mud  take  fome  butter,  foap,  and  candles 
from  Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  WeA  Indies  will  take  a  lar^  quantity  of  thofe  articles  and 
falted  beef.  A  confiderable  quantity  of  candles  and  foap  ufed  to 
go  firom  England  to  America  :  — —  there  is  a  bounty  on  exporta- 
tion of  id.  per  pound  on  candles,  and  id.  halfpenny  on  foap. 
If  the  trade  with  the  Weft  Indies  fliould  be  laid  open,  Britain 
and  Ireland  may  lofe  the  foap  and  candle  trade. 

Ruffia  exported  350  tons  of  the  laft  article  in  178s.  *  She  hat 
taken  off  the  duty  on  foap  and  caudles  when  exported.  As  to 
pork,  the  Carolines  raife  fuch  a  prodigious  quantity  of  hogs  and 
can  feed  them  at  fo  little  expcoce,  as  oefore-mentioned,  that  pork 
may  be  afforded  there  one  third  cheaper  than  from  Euelaod  or 
Ireland.  * 

i 

SALTED        FISH,  '^ 

From  many  circnmftances  can  be  fent  from  Newfoundland, 
Nova  Scotia,  and  St.  John 's,  to  the  Weft  Indies,  cheaper  than 
from  the  American  States. 

Lumier,  viz.  Staves  and  Hoops,  Scantling  and 
Timier  for  Houfe  and  Mill  Vrames^  Boariitf 
^  Shingles,  &c. 

From  the  great  plenty  of  timber  in  Nova  ScotM  and  Canada, 
and  the  beginning  fcarcity  of  i*  near  water  carriage  in  the  Ameri- 
can States)  thefe  articles  may  be  imported  from  tlie  former,  on  as 
good,  if  not  belter  terms,  than  from  the  latter.    Hoops  for  fugar 

hogflieads 

•  Hewtvir  txtrMrdtHary  it  may  appear,  it  is  biwtvir  true,  that 
mtivitt/fknding  talinu  is  the  natural  prtiuct  oftbi  Narthtru  States 
0/ Amtriea,  it  bat  turn  and  metf  bt  import  liji  eta  Rtiffia  and  fold  ai 
cheap  eu  thitt  raifed  in  the  eenntiy,  having  a  confiderable  profit  to  the 
importer.  The  Jame  taaj  be /aid  of  bar  iron  \  conjiderrtble  quantities 
efvibith  are  imptrteJ  intu  jlmeriea,/ram  Ruffia,  Sweden,  and  Spain  ; 
«W  al/o  ofjlax,  frtm  tbe  mrtbern  parts  of  Enrope. 


m 


/  ' 


y 


'■*m 


■'WS?" 


& 


-^^••rtkHwif* 


*  '-fllil&rtl^J, 


■-i»«S 


ivr"' 


iTtfff.'' " "  i"^"" 


m 


OBSERVATIONS 


honfheads  src  nfien  cairiffd  fiom  England.  Shipi  giirj;  n  t:,9 
Weft  Indiei  have  only  a  light  frciglii.  and  carry  nut  iliij  .i-ticl:  ; 
and  it  will  anfwerto  carry  from  hence  ftaves,  boards,  ai.d  fli.Kglcs  ; 
aitd  they  arc  of  a  fupcrior  quality. 

Live  Oxen,  and  Sheep,   PcuUry  cf  every  Kind  fur 
Vrejh  ProviJionSt  &c.  in  tie  I/iunds. 

A  confiderablc  number  cf  oxen  have  been  Ant  fioin  New- 
England  to  the  Windward  Iflands,  and  fomc  Ihc-rp,  bu»  :  one  to 
Tamaica  ;  mutton  is  not  much  eaten  in  the  illaiidi  ;  (om>  (hecp 
are  raifcd  there.  Nova  Scotia  may  raifc  rx-n  fnffic.ent  (or  tiie 
iQands,  having  fine  paftutcs.  Poultry  will  probably  bt-  ,  urchuicd 
cheaper  in  Canada  than  in  the  Amcucan  States.  Ltrmuda  veilcls 
bring  poultry  ani  onions. 

RICE,    INDIAN     CORN,     and    TOBACCO. 

Of  Rice  no  crcat  qii-intity  goes  to  the  Wfll  Indies ;  what  is 
rent  comes  chkfly  from  South  Carolina.  Indiar  corn  »  fn«c« 
preferred  to  it,  which  is  chiefly  exported  from  V  irf.i'-a  ard  Noith 
Carolina  ;  but  the  planters  taifed  prpvifions  for  th.  u  regrots  in  a 
great  ineafinc  during  the  war;  boi  it  can  hardly  Pnf^^.r  at  other 
fimcs.  except  a  few  yams,  and  pctatces  for  prtient  .fe.  They 
Blfo  raife  nearly  tobacco  uiough  for  the  ncgr'-cs.  Bermi'.da  vcHeis 
will  bring  as  much  of  ihefe  articles  as  a  e  wanted ;  and  aifo  lumber 
cheaper  than  the  veffels  of  the  American  Stales. 

Pcafe  ivhicb  may  be  made  a   Suhjiitute  for  Rice 
and  Indian  Corn, 

Are  cheaper  in  Canada  than  in  any  part  of  «J<;^  American  States, 
where  they  are  only  raifed  in  theprovir.ee  of  N^w  York  and  the 
lerfeys.  Though  perhaps  there  may  not  be  a  fufhcient  quantity 
raifed  in  Canada  at  p.efent  to  fnpply  any  g'"t  demand 
there  may  foon.  There  is  no  bug  in  .hat  country ;  but 
peafe  planted  on  other  parts  of  the  conunent,  except  abont  Alba- 
«y,  are  devoured  by  bugs  or  flics.  [  D>p  tU  grcin  ,n  />uiU  h.ort 
fLli»i,  ittcill  inJcmtm,cfur,fiop  the  bug,  it  never  •u.ill  bnght 

"Ar-foL  African  trade,  Ccngrcf.  and  the  General  Airemblie. 
have  det'-  "  againft  it.  Probably  tlic  Carolinas  ard  Georgia 
nn.ft  contii.  for  fomc  time:  but  the  importation  by  .  •>  means 
kept  pace  w,>  the  incrcafe.  The  price  of  fiaves  was  lowered 
bdorc  the  warj  flavcj  bo:n  in  the  country  were   V'^^'lll^^^_^l 


-jUtr 


mm 


J  s 

lit  ihis  I'fioh  ; 
acid  fli.nglct'  ; 


ry  Kind  for 
.nds. 

■nt  from  New- 
p,  bu>  s.f'iie  to 
is  ;  (c>m>  (hccp 
ffic.ent  (.ir  ine 
ly  bi'  fuichiilcd 
ititmuda  veilcls 


D  E  A  C  C  O. 

tidies ;  wliat  is 
corn  is  much 
p\v,s.  ard  Noith 
11  ir  regrdts  in  a 
piifvur  at  other 
cut  i-fe.  They 
Bcriniida  weffels 
and  aifo  lumber 


ute  for  Rice 


iircrican  State*, 
w  York  and  the 
iifficient  quantity 
great  demand 
t  country ;  but 
:cpt  about  Alba- 
in  in  pickle  hifcrt 
tiivir  ivill  h light 

neral  Airembiies 
nas  ard  Georgia 
iun  by  i  •>  means 
aves  was  lowered 
ere  preferred,  a« 
fcafcntd 


ON      COMMERCE.         29 

feafoned  to  the  climate.  From  the  fcrcgoing  (Inte  of  tlie  imporli 
and  exports  of  the  American  fr.tej  to  and  fnmi  liurope  and  the 
Wed  Indies,  a  judgement  may  be  foirricdof  ilieir  n»iuri.l  conrfe 
and  tendency,  and  their  iraportai;ce,  and  what  mcafures  oiiglit  to  be 
taken  by  Great  Britain  ;  or  ratlicr,  it  spptars,  that  little  is  to  be 
.  done,  and  our  great  care  (hoold  be  to  avoid  di  ing  mifchief. 

The  American  States  arc  feparaied  fro.Ti  us  and  independent, 
ccnf  (J  jeiitly  foreign,  the  declaring  them  (uch,  puts  tr.em  in  the 
o'llyfituation  in  which  .hfy  can  be,  al'  difiiciihy  is  removed, 
r.othirg  is  hazarded,  no  hidden  niifchitf  is  to  be  dreaded,  but 
relying  on  ihofc  commercial  principles  ana  regulations  under 
which  our  iradc  and  navy  have  bercme  fo  grttat.  Great  Britain 
will  loofe  fiwof  the  advantages  flie  p  ill-ricd  before  the  American 
"tati's   became  independent. 

The  Navigation  ad  prevented  the  Dutch  from  being  the  carrier* 
of  our  trade.  The  viola-ion  or  relaxation  of  that  aft  in  favour  of 
the  WcH  l;id;an  Iflands,  or  of  the  American  States,  will  give  that 
advantage  to  the  Ncw-Englandcrs.  The  bill,  in  its  prefent  ftate, 
allowing  an  open  trade  between  the  American  States  and  our 
iflands,  rclinquiflies  the  only  vie  rnd  advantige  of  colonies  or 
Well  India  iflands.  and  for  which  alone  it  could  be  worth  while 
to  incur  the  vaft  expcnce  of  their  maintenance  and  proteftion,  viz. 
The  monopoly  cf  tlieir  confumpticn  ;  and  or  the  carriage  of  their 
produce  ;  our  late  wars  have  been  for  the  exclufive  trade  of 
AtTierica,  and  our  enormous  debt  has  been  incurred  for  that  objeft. 
Our  remaining  colonies  on  the  contioent  and  iflands,  and  the 
favourable  flate  of  Englifli  mannfaftures  may  ftill  give  us  the  trade 
of  America  almoft  exclufively  ;  but  the  bill  grants  the  Well  India 
trade  to  the  American  States  on  belter  terms  than  we  can  have  it 
ourfelves,  and  thefe  advantages  arc  bellowed,  while  local  circum- 
fiances  infure  mrny  others  which  it  is  our  duty  to  guard  againft, 
rather  than  promote. 

It  makes  it  the  intereft  of  our  merchant*  to  trade  under  the 
American  flag  ;  every  man  knows  that  (hipping,  and  every 
provifion  neceffary  for  Ihippirg,  may  be  had  in  America  at  two- 
third*  of  the  expcnce  they  may  be  had  here. 

It  is  the  policy  of  France  and  Spain,  not  (o  fuiFer  foreign 
vcflels  to  trade  to  their  iflands  and  colonics,  and  it  has  been 
hitherto  our  policy  ;  but  he  bill,  without  the  Icall  necefljty,  gives 
i:p  this  molt  iiecefl"jiy  leftriftion,  and  our  whole  commercial 
fyftcm. 

The  ^  French,  indeed,  opened  the  trade  to  their  Weft  India 
iflands  in  1779,  to  neutral  nations,  that  they  might  take  every 
feaman  they  pcflibly  could  for  their  navy.  The  confcqiiences 
would  foon  have  been  the  dellrnclion  of  their  mvy  as  it  wat  of 
thtir  trade.  Ships  from  all  parts  went  to  their  ifliuds,  iind  carried 
the  produce  where  they  pleafed.  Weft  India  produce  became 
fcarcc  in  France  at  the  time  it  was  plentiful  in  the  nor:h.  The 
rcvciu:c  failtd.     France  loft  one  million   aud  a  half  llet;ii;g,   and 

•is"^  tUC 


*»> 


t /# 


3*> 


OBSERVATIONS 


;<;. 


li 


Ike  fame  Ipfs  would  bive  been  innBilly  repelled  ti  long  ii  tht 

*'tKk  waf  an  e„d  of  th«  tr.de.  There  wa.  no  n.rferjr  for 
Ictmen  left,  and  if  ihe  war  had  coBtinued,  feveral  ftipi  muR 
ha"  been  laid  up  every  year  for  want  of  failora.  Reprefentation. 
caic  fJom  BoSrdeaox,  Nante.,  &c.  and  immed  ateljr  on  the 
Ii."  ngthe  preliminarie..  the  permiOion  for  «"'"»""«"•«!«» 
ioherlfl-di  wa.  withdrawn  :  and  fo  jeajou.  were  the  F«nch  of 
he  trade  of  their  iJlandi.  that  before  the  lofs  of  Canada  and 
LJoiSourg.  thof.  colonies  were  not  allowed  a  direa  trade  W 
AemV  M^Vr""  »>«  had  the  good  fenfe,  by  her  treaty  with  the 
American  Slates,   to  withhold  the  my  thing  we  are  feeksng  to 

*''Bv7ny  violation  or  relaxation  of  the  Navigation  •«. «!'«  »J 
wilY  i  enurely  loft  as   to  Ireland:    that  kfngdom  adopted  it 
Sv  and  e«r.flly  a.  long  a.  it  Ihould  remain  onahered  «  Great 
SiL'n.    Jt  IS  a  principfl  tie  between  the  two  cou.tries,bu,be- 
Se?tSe  lifs  of  the  aft,  as  far  a.  it  confine.  Ireland,  we  ftould.„. 
JSVe  ourfelve.  »oft  fcnoofly  with  that  kingdom  «n  inother  efp,«. 
Ireland  received.  *»  a  right,  every  advantage  (he  had  lately  ac- 
««i«d   except  the  participation  of  the  Weft  India  monopoly,  for 
S.ttia.ttankJ.  a„d%  return  paffed  «h-  -a  wWc^  lay.  t  . 
iiuBe  dotie.  a.  Britilh  on  imported  fqgar.  and  other  Weft  Indw 
Se..   end  l«y»   prohibitory  duiie.    on   fimil.r  ««icl".fr»» 
toeieiifland..    By  thi.  bill  that  monopoly  would  ceafe  j  depri- 
wdTf  the  advantage.  IreUndwUl  think  Britain  ha.  done  away 
S.  coifideratioothat  indoced  herto  fliut  her  port,  againft  foreign 
r««.ri     The  Irilh  aft  laying  prohibitory  dutie.  i.  biennial,  and 
Sill  expJe  next  Chrift»a.r.£l  it  is  not  to  be  fuppofed.  .ndec 
the  ciicomftance  alluded  to.  it  would  be  continned. 

HwreStf.  might  be  to  take  foreign  Weft  India  good.,  at  leaft. 
fte  woold  not  thtnk  it  neccffary  to  charge  her  own  confumpttoo 
S  fMRar.  with  higher  duties  than  i.  r^quFred  from  America.  She 
^  rSpea  to  have  Weft  India  good,  on  a.  |ood  terms  as  the 
Americtn  States,  now  become  foreign.  Weft  lofia  platters  ftould 
confider  whether  a  direa  trade  to  the  American  States  will  «- 
compencerhem  for  the  lof.  of  the  Irilh  confumption.  "i  P"I'- 
«eT!iould  confider  what  would  be  the  ft.te  of  fmuggling  from 
'  "r  land  io"o  tji.  country,  if  Ireland  ftould  become  the  depot  foe 
fcreicn  Weft  India  goods,  or  of  our  own.  under  low  duttes. 

TKrTpr.fe««tioVof  .he  committee  of  Weft  India  planter,  and 

aeTchant^o  the  King's  Mini«er,.  fe.s  forth,  that  "  »>>e  perm.ffion 

•  5  Americ,  Ihip.  at  heretofore,  freely  to  bring  the  P'o^^ce  'f 

the  dominion,   of  the   American     States  to  the  Sugar  Colonie.. 

^I^Sback  the  produce  of  our  ifland.  in  return,  is  obvioofly 

•'^The"  wool-grower,  of  England  might  alfo  fay  .  free  '^f^^ 
•f  wool  iiobviouflyeffentialt.  their  intercft,  but  it  would  potman 


mmtf^mKumF'^^'mmmmmmfmmmmmi'i 


I  mm»i- 


""•mvfipni 


mmmm 


N  8 

•I  long  at  tht 

no  nurrery  for 
!ral  Ihipi  nuft 
Reprefentationt 
diatel]r  on  the 
■1  nntioni  to  go 
!  the  French  of 
if  Cantda  and 
direa  trade  to 
treaty  with  the 
care  feeking  to 

on  %&,  that  aft 
lorn  adopted  it 
•Itercd  in  Great 
untriei;  but,  be- 
id,  we  fliould  in* 
\  another  lefpeQ. 
he  had  lately  ac 
a  monopoly,  tot 
)  which  lay*  the 
DiherWeft  India 
lir  articles  from 
lid  ceafe ;  depri- 
I  has  done  away 
rti  againft  foreign 
ii  biennial,  and 
fuppofed,  nndcc 
id* 

a  goods;  at  leaft, 
>wn  confumption 
I  America.    She 
Eood  terms  as  the 
lia  platters  fliould 
can  States  will  re« 
iption,  and  Parli- 
>f  fmoggling  from 
:ome  the  depot  foe 
low  duties. 
India  planters  and 
It  "  the  permiflion 
ig  the  produce  of 
le  Sugar  Colonies, 
Btnrn,  is  obvionfly 

r  a  free  exporution 

>at  it  would  pot  an 

end 


ON    COMMERCE. 


3« 


end  to  oor  moll  valnabla  export  of  woollens;  it  would  .  lable 
France  to  onderfel  us.  It  has  been  faid  that  the  iflands  cannot 
cxift  without  an  open  trade  to  the  American  States ;  it  may 
be  alked,  how  they  have  exifted  durine  the  war,  when  even 
Canada  or  Nova  Scotia,  and  alfo  England  and  Ireland,  were  not 
open  to  them  wiihont  great  expence  and  riflt  t 

They jgot  their  lumber  by  nrines  and  tbroueh  nentral  iflandi ; 
but  not  io  much  as  may  now  be  got  immediately  from  Canada  and 
Nova  Scotia.  The  lumber  of  thole  colonies  are  the  beft  in  America. 
Some  little  time  may  be  neceflary  before  a  full  fupply  of  all  the 
articles  they  can  produce  will  be  obtained  but  it  will  be  better  for 
this  country  to  allow  a  bounty  on  lumber,  conveyed  in  Britilh 
veflcls  from  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia  to  the  Weft  Indies  for  a  li. 
mited  time,  than  to  facrifice  our  carrying  trade  alfo  a  bounty  on 
building  fliips  in  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia,  to  be  employed  in  the 
fifliery  or  carrying  trade  to  the  Weft  Indies ;  alfo  a  fmall  bounty 
for  a  limited  time  on  making  wheat  into  flour*  in  Canada,  to  en- 
courage mills  t  there,  and  to  fupply  the  fiflieries  with  bread  or 
bifcoit. 

Prom  the  bay  of  Fundy  or  Hallifkx,  or  even  from  the  gulph  of 
St.  Laurence  to  the  Weft  Indies,  the  navigation  is  little  longer  or 
tnore  tedious  than  from  the  Delaware  or  Chefapeak.  VeiTelsga. 
ing  from  the  American  States  are  obliged  to  fleer  far  to  the  eaft  to 
get  into  the  trade  winds.  From  the  mod  Leeward  Iflandi,  the 
parage  to  the  golph  of  St.  Laurence  may  be  made  in  15,  20,  or 
25  days,  although  35  or  40  may  be  neceflary  to  go  to  Quebec. 

Under  the  article  of  corn,  it  hit  appeared  how  amply  Canada 
can  fupply  our  iflands.  It  appears  alfo,  that  no  part  of  the  world 
furniftiet  greater  advantages  for  fliip  bnilding.  The  oak  of  Canada 
is  heavier  and  much  more  laSing  than  that  of  New  England.  lu 
fliort,  it  is  nnqueftionably  a  faft,  that  Nova  Scotia  and  Canada 
will  foon  become  capable,  with  a  very  licile  encouragement,  of 
fupplying  our  iflands  with  all  the  fliipping,  fifli,  timber,  and  lum- 
ber of  every  kind,  and  with  mill  or  draft  horfes,  with  flour  and 
leveral  other  articles  they  may  want ;  and  Bermuda  fliipping  might 
fupply  the  iflaiids  with  fuch  articles  as  will  be  wanted  frdm  the 
Southern  States,  via.  Indian  corn,  rice,  and  the  litile  tobacco  that 
may  be  necefl'ary  in  addition  to  what  is  grown  in  ihe  Weft  Indiea 
for  th^  negroes. 

The 


IS 


*  /« gtntraf,  at  le  iht  iouBtits,  vot  bad  btUtr  witbdra-w  tbtm 
as  many  inftantit  at  faffiblt,  and  takt  off  datUt  n  ranm 
matiriaU  imptrttd  at  halt  to  tbt  amaunt  of  tht  favingfrtnt  btntttitt ; 
btttim  tbifrifimt  cafi  it  migbt  it  adviftablt  t»  givi  btuatitt /tr 
pvt  Pr  fivn  ytari  tirtaim.  Fi-oi  Jbillingt  pir  ttm  tn  Canada  tr 
Neva  Settia  bailt  fiipt,  net  nndtr  fwrty  tent,  nuentdtnteuragt  ma- 
ny artitht  tbirt,  ana  dram  vmkmtn  tkitbtr,    Ttn  /killingt  en 

tatk 


^\\ 


«■ 


OBSERVATIONS 

The  Weft  India  planters  uiiaoublcilly  would  dciive  great  »dv»n- 
UBt  from  the  (hiupii.;;  ot  the  American   States  beioj;   permuted  to 
cafry   ihJr  produi;.-  loday   part   ot    the  wo.ld  ;  tl.e  value  of  tl>e.r 
produce  wou:.l  be  imicl,  raifod,  and  the  price  of   tVcij.lu  would  be 
niiicli  lowe.cJ  by  lU-  C'ini>eii'.ton  j  but  iuuly  they  aic  liberal  me... 
•nd     on  rcne.'Ut.n,  will   not,  Iroin  the  moll  ieU-iutcreltcd  motive, 
wilb  the  Ptcatetl   n)ii;:hief  to  tlic   empire.     Many  do  not ;  li  any 
IhoulJ,  we  mi.H  i>  ,t,    for  thtir    emolumem,  facrilice   the    mannc 
of  EDgla.id.  ar.d   the  adv.m.ge*  of  thur    trade.     Much   may   t>e 
done  ill  oihcr  ways  for  the  Well  India  planters  and    merchant*.     H 
is  to  be  hoped  they  will  be  relieved  in  the  mai.ner  of  paying  duties 
and  fome  perhaps  n.i",ht  be  lowered  ;  more  efficacious  means  might 
be    taken  to  prevei.t  l.nuggling  foreign  produce   into   tl.cfe  king- 
doms ;  and  it  is  to  be  wifhrd  the  Hate  of  the  country  would  allow 
the    duty  on   rum  to  be   lowered  ;  perliM)^  it  would  be  the  moll 
effcaual  means  of  preventing  the  fmugpling  of  b.cr.ch  brandies 
.mong  u».     Delays  at  the  Cullom   Hoale    may  be  removed,  and 
reform,  made  there  in  many  points  i '  -'.c  a^lvantagc  of  the  trader 
and  the  revenue.    Encouragement  undoubtedly  might  be    given  i» 
the  rrowth  of  indigo,  coffee,  cocoa.  bi:c    obacco,  on  fuch  lands  an, 
from   foil    and    f.tu.tio,,,    are  unfit  for  the    culture  of  fugav  :  and 
there  arc  great  trails  of  uncultivated  Lads  very  tit  tor  ihofe  oracles. 
Cotton  alio  mig^«i  be  a  viiluable  produce.  .     .r      i 

Our  Wed  India  idaiids  will  have  many  advantages  in  North 
Aroeiica.  The  States  cr.nno:  pet  rum  elfewhere  in  any  quantity, 
ofagoodquulity;  •  and  though  much  was  diililled  by  the  New- 
Knclande'S  from  mols.Tcs  imported  from  the  Ircrch  iflands,  it 
was  of  a  bad  quality,  and  wa.  exported.  A  great  p.it  of  the^r  own 
coiifutnFaon  was  fup-litd  from  our  iflands.  and  has  oeen  ftsicd 
before  as  one  of  inei.  f;r-.-atc(l  imports.  The  »mportation  ir.io 
Canada  ard  Nova  Scotia  .,{  the  inlcrior  rum  dilliUed  by  the 
American  Slates,  (liould    be  prohibited  ;  •  ar.d  Jfo  theufcoffo- 


*r 


reign  fugars  io  ihof^  colonies  mull  be  prevented 


The 


ni 


'if 


tacbhorfeexporltJfromCauada,  cnJiaMin  tocKeJ}  Ind.e,.  7, 
enccur/,e  m:!h,  c,  flnUino  p,r  r-o-/.  en  bihult  crf.our  "^po'tef  One 
Zl.n,l  e^-cry^uLau/fiJh  to  the  tV^Ji  l,.d,c„  f:-,ejhdhng.pcr 
\ZZOf tit  or.  lumber,   iearai,  Jcanllings,  faves,  tfTf. 

•    t  ^'^^'•»  '■'  '"b  ""^  "f '•''''  ""'^  "'"^  '"  ^''"'"^'*' 

•  rhe  rum   frcm    Dmtrara,     ivhichi,  in  great  part  /fj'\h 
•fJanlers/rcmLrbadoe,,  it  gocd,  hut  the  ^uant.ty  i.  ^nccnJeJeratl. 

X  KovaScctia,  St.  John'.,  ^"^ ^f"/^''' /'''V'^fflHl^^^^^ 
^bich  may  be  greath  increafed,    '^'''^  f^' t  ^   .      /.    l!r  Son 
ierie.,  rurn  i.piteJ  ln,o  Canada  and  Nova  «-'-' ^V/iTXt'- 
.t^hich  poes  to  the  /ufport  of  their  ti'vil gcvernment.     The  "ff"''^ 
Zru/puy.  only  cni  id.    One  hundred  gallon,  of  common  molajfe.mah 
ioogullom  o/rum.    The  bttttr  /ort  viillmak,  105  gailom. 


to' 


tK>v*-**^ 


.-.w*tLL. 


'ymmfm^f/^mmii^' 


'•^••■■pp"'^- 


•  s 

e  great  «dv»n« 
i»   pcrmilted  to 
v»lue  of  ilic'f 
i}>!u  would  be 
le  liberal  men, 
ercllcd  njotiwf, 
do  not ;  if  any 
e   the    marine 
Much  may  be 
mtTthanti.     U 
'  p*yi"g  duties 
ui  means  might 
ito  thcfe  king- 
ry  would  allow 
Id  be  the  moll 
rcr.ch  brandies 
e  removed,  and 
e  of  the  trader 
>ht  be    given  k* 
m  fuch  lands  an, 
c  of  fugar  ;  and 
^r  ihofe  criicles. 

ntagcs  in  North 
in  any  quantity, 
ied  by  the  New- 
rcnch  iflands,  ic 
pi.it  of  iheirown 

has  been  (Isvcd 
importation  ir.iu 

dilHUed  by  the 
!fj  the  ufc  of  fo- 

Tbc 

WeJ}  Indies.  7» 
ur  expofied.  One 
File  Jhillingi  per 
fc. 


\t  part  fettled  Ij 
y  it  inanJiJerable, 

tiiJliUeriei  alriaJy, 
vour  of  the/t  difiil- 
tay  1 1.  per  galloH, 
The  molajfet  im- 
mmon  molajfet  tntkt 
gailtni. 


O  N 


COMMERCE 


IS 


The  iiirrrafe  of  the   confompiion   offiigar  mull  continue  to  a 
grcft  amount.     As  yet    fupar  ii  not    commonly    uftd  ihrnughouc 
half  of  Europe.     Jt  ib  faid  the  confumpiion  of  England  and  Ireland 
is  fo  much  increafcd,  an  to  tike  almoll  the  whole  produce  of  cue 
iflands.     France  is  incresfing   her  (ugar  plant.itions ;    and  nothing 
bill  b<id  management  or  extravagance  can  prevent  our  iflands  from 
felling  as  che.p  ^s  the  French,   althougii  they  now   underfel  iis    fo 
greatly.     The  Spaniards  cultivate  barely  fufficient  fu^ar  for  their 
own    confumption.     The    Suuthcrn   provinces  of  the   American 
States  are  not  likely  to  fuccecd  in  tliat  aiticle,  —  frnfls  and  north- 
weft  winds   will   prevent.     Attempts  have   been    made  at  New- 
Orleans,  and  have  failed  :   a  great    field,  therefore,  will   be  open 
for  the  fugar  Colonies  ;  and  when  it  is  r.eceff'iry  to  relieve  them,  it 
muft  be  done  by  other   means  than    (he  facriftce  of  our   carrying 
trade,  the  nurfery  of  onr  feamen.    Canada  and  Nova    Scotia  will 
foon  amply  fupply  the    principal  articles   wanted  in    the  iflands, 
except  Indian  corn  and   rice;  and  if  there  (hould  be   difficulty  in 
getting  thcfe  articles,  the  chcapnefs  of  wheat  and  peafe  in  Canada 
will  foon  afFord  a  good  fubllitute. 

It  appears  from  what  has  been  ftafed,  that  there  will  be  no 
difficuliy  with  refpcft  to  lumber  and  provifions,  except  in  the 
beginning,  and  that  may  bs  obviated.  Britilh  (hipping  muft  go 
from  our  iflands  and  colonies  to  the  American  States,  and  cannot 
be  refufcd  admittance  on  the  fame  footing  as  in  other  foreign 
countries.  We  ftiotild  not  admit  into  our  ports  in  Britain  the  pro- 
duce of  one  of  the  American  States  in  the  fliipping  of  another,* 
iinlcfs  they  allow  the  fhipping  of  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia  alfo  to 
carry*  the  produce  of  the  States.  If  they  fliould  tcfnfc  it,  they 
will  lofe  the  market  to  our  iflands,  of  which  they  might  always 
have  a  ftjarc  through  our  fliipping.  But  no  mandate  of  Congrefi 
will  prevent  ihofe  of  the  States  ( whofo  intcreft  it  ii, )  from 
fuppiying  us  with  any  article  we  want. 

If  the  American  States  flioiild  endeavour  to  pay  their  debts 
their  commerce  will  be  burthencd  with  duties  and  taxes,  and  the 
land*  and  produce  of  the  firmers  miifl  for  fome  time  lie  under 
very  heavy  impofitions.  If,  then,  the  agriculture  andcommeicc, 
and  fiflieries  of  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia,  be  left  not  only  fr-e, 
but  receive  proper  encouragement,  the  important  confequences' 
are  too  evident  to  need  their  being  pointed  out  or  enlarijed  on. 
The  diftilleries,  the  fiflieries,  and  fliip. building,  have  heretofore 
been  the  only  refourccs  and  fupports  of  the  commerce  of  the  North - 
era  American  States.  A  large  ptoportion  of  the  fliips  when  built 
were  fent  to  the  Weft  Indies  with  cargoes  cf  timber,  lumber  and 
fifli ;  and  to  Europe,  to  be  fold  or  take  freight  ;  and  a  great  part 
of  the  romdiftilled  in  the  American  States  was  confumed  in  Nova 
Scotia,  and  in  Canada,  and  in  the  fiflieries  on  the  banks  of  New- 
<<fbandland,  &c. 

E  Bjt 

•  Thii  tbt  Navigaiii/t  all  willfuppsru 


•««dML:t»^ 


T 


34        OBSERVATlbNS 

But  the  diftillerics  may  be  cirtied  on  to  as  great  profit  in  Nav« 
Scoiia  as  An  any  pi:iofihc  r-jtincnt;  and  Hill  mere  fo  ihe  im- 
pniiant  bulinrr;  (if  (liip  building  j  and  notliirgcin  be  mure  evi- 
dent ihan  that  Nova  Scoiia  in  paiticular  is  better  fitusted  for  the 
/idieriei  than  any  o-hcr  cjuniry  whitever.  In  (hort,  if  proper 
HUention  is  paid  n  Nova  Scotij,  the  lands  in  ihat  province,  at 
prefent  of  liiilc  value,  will  increafs  in  tluir  price  more  rapidly 
than  can  at  lirll  be  imagiiird. 

It  it  obvious  how  nccellaiy  Canada  and  Nova  Scoiia  are  to  our 
iflandi;  that  we  (huul-l  put  ihofe  colonics  on  ihc  bell  pofTibie  foot- 
ing! and  tiiat  the  g  ivtriiment  of  Canada  mull  be  alttrcd.— That 
the  Canadians   in  general   arc   difcontented    under   their   prefent 
government,  appears  from  the  aid  und   countenance  thty  gave  the 
American  army   w'ncn   i.i    Canada.   §  It  wc  are  not    wiff  inough 
to  give  them  a  free  conilituiion   and  government  agrce.ible  to  the 
wimes  of  the  people,  liie  encouragement  and  aid  ihey  might  have 
from  thvir    neighbnus     may    promote  the   wifli  of  a    government 
indepeudciii   cf  Great  Britain.     A    military    police   is    bad    for  a 
town,  except  in  a   Hate   cf  war,     but    totally   inadequate   for    the 
government  of  a  large    country,      fuch   as    Canada.     The    exor- 
bitant fees  of  office,  ard  cxpcncc  of  obtaining  jiifticc  in  the  courts 
there,  and  the  great   diilance,  in  many  cafes,  from  them,  arc  con- 
fidcrcd  au   a  gr^fit  grlcvin::;,      an  J    loudly  coinplaint'd  of  by   the 
Canadians.      If  wc  could  find  out  that  government  they  would  like 
bell,— If  they  could  agice  in  iheir  iduas  of  the  bell  fortr    of  go- 
vernment, —  they  ouoiit  to  have  it  according  to  their  wiftcs,  ex- 
cept in  inch  points  as  tl.ifli  with  tl)C  neceirary  commercial  intorelh 
cf  the  country  that  nuttuic,  encunr  ges,  and  pruttfts  tlicmf    At 
prcfert  thiy  have  r.o  n  prcfcntatives  ;  they  Ihould   have  a  General 
AITembly,  and  trial   by  jury.     If  their  conilituiion   is  formed  on 
the  bell  plan  of  cur  laic  colunier,  t  it  will  draw  many   inhabitants 

from 

§  It  did  not  arlfefrem  a  nui/tj  to  rilurti  to  tie  dominion  of  Franct ; 
thty  had  expirienced  ihe  advantagt  vf  lelongin^  to  Britain,  Thiy 
twtre  kept  foor  under  the  French  i^overttmint  :  thty  have  groivn  rich 
under  ourt.  Their  prie/lt  acknotvUd^e  thtv  have,  in  great  meafurt, 
hft  their  influenee.  The  French  Canadians  nvere  diffatiifitd,  but 
the  fettlers  Ji'ice  the piau  of  1 763  ////  morijo.  The  caufe  o/di/con- 
tenl  will  ht  explained, 

X  In  feme  0/  the  colon! et  the  Council  tuas  appointed  bf  the  Crown, 
and  the  office  ivas  held  during  pleufure.  In  other  colonies  it  was 
cbofen  annua'.ly  by  the  peopU.  The  Council Jhould  be  more  independent 
e/tbe  Croavn,  and  entirety  independent  of  the  people  :  it  Jhould  bt 
during  good  behaviour.  If  prejudice  or  policy  think  it  ntcejfary  thai 
none  but  piotrjlants  Jhould  bt  of  the  Council,  yet  Roman  Catholics 
9ughtio  bt  capabtt  of  bein^  ilt£i«deftht   JJimbly,     Thi  Countil 

•uituld 


**>•*>;.  ^ .- 


T 


'JWfl 


•».«  1 


oUt  in  Nova 
:  fo  (he  im- 
be  miire  evi- 
Liated  for  the 
irt,  if  proper 
pruvincc,  at 
tore  rapidly 

tia  are  to  our 
pofTible  foot- 
.Tcd.—  That 
their  prcfent 
they  gave  the 
wifi;  enough 
ce.'ible  to  iho 
y  might  hav9 

government 

iii    bad    for  a 

|uate   for    the 

The    txor- 

in  the  courts 
itm,  arc  con- 
t'd of  by  the 
cy  wouid  like 
k  foriT  ofgo« 
r  wiftcs,  ex- 
ircial  intorells 
ftstlicmf  At 
ave  a  General 
is  fornned  on 
y  inhabitants 
ffom 

lion  of  Fratict ; 
iritain,  Thty 
I've  grotjun  rich 
great  meafure, 
^ijathfied,  but 
caufe  o/di/con- 


bf  the  Crown, 
oloniei  it  nuas 
tore  indepindeiu 
'.  it  Jhould  bt 
it  nicejjary  that 
omaa  Catholiei 
,  Til  Coundt 
•wtuld 


ON     COMMERCE. 


ZS 


from  them,  affordinfj  an  afylnm  to  the  opr.'fTod,  and  to  thofe  who 
may  fee  the  advant:)gcj  of  livin;-  under  a  Britifti  goveriimeqt,  and 
enjoying  ii  hci.c!i;s  :  btii  i  iilds  a  fice  c  nt'.,ti.iioii  h  jiver.  thfl 
cmigraiiuns  from  the  /Amtritai)  State;;  (wl.ich,  it  may  be  cxpcft.d, 
will  be  Very  r-jiifidnuble)  would  nly  tend  to  wcaisen  the  powec 
of  j;overiinKnt  in  that  country,  ird  biiiij;  nbout  a  fcvnluiioii.  It 
may  be  t'lc  b:ll  and  the  only  m  rins  to  picvci.t  a  wifh  to  feparato 
from  tliis  country  :  for  with  a  proper  coiillitation  the  Canadians 
might  be  the,  happi-ll  p.-opic  on  eaith  j  and  independence,  that 
is,  a  fepuvioii  f,um  this  country,  the  grcaleU  cnrfe,  depriving 
them  of  tlis  v;ry  grcit  an.)  m»ny  advanta^fs  they  will  have  over 
till.-  American  S;iies  by'their  being  a  put  of  the  Btitifh  empire.  It 
is  obvious,  that,  if  added  to  the  Union,  they  would  fall  into  .1 
much  more  iiingriticdiit  llate. 

In  competition  with  the  Aiii:rJran  Stifes,  Canada  and  Novi 
Scotia  will  have  many  cxciufive  advantage!:  We  mull  refcrvo 
to  our  remaining  colonies  tliofe  to  which  ttiey  are  entiik-d.  §  The 
inhabicaris  of  Nantucket  and  tlie  Filhing  Coall  will  migrate  to 
Nova  Scotia  for  the  fake  of  the  fuperior  advantages  of  our  fifheriei, 
and  from  other  parts  of  the  American  States  for  different  advan- 
inges,  which  Britirti  fubjefls  fhould  exclufively  have;  but  if  we 
do  not  reftrve  thefe  advantages  to  our  coloniis,  not  contint  witli 
the  irreparable  and  for-cver-dcbafing  facrifice  of  theLoyalifts  and 
their  property  to  the  rebels,  we  continue  to  hoIJ  out  a  premium  for 
rebellion.  '  But  if  our  remaining  colonies  are  put  on  a  proper 
footing,  nothing  could  be  mere  dcilroft^ve  to  their  inleiell  than  a 
reparation  from  us  by  revolt  or  ccuqucll. 

We 

^vould  bt  a  fuffcient  check  on  them.  Europe,  now  in  ^reat  meafurt 
devoid  offaHatidfm  and  frie/icraft.  and  the  policy  fup^orled  by  them, 
might  learn  liberality  in  tbeje  matters  from  Am-.ricn.  Prete/ianti 
miert  often  eUaed  of  the  ^J/embly  in  Maryland  by  Roman  Catholics. 
Perhapiour  MiniJItrt  cannot  rijque  any,  aUhau«h  the  mo/i  proper 
meafure,  that  may  pojftbly  be  unpopular,  even -wit.'}  the  mojl  narrot^' 
minded,  ignorant,  and  abjurd ;  or  may  give  an  otporfunity  of  interfer- 
ence to  nxild,  malicious,  tr  de/igning  men. 

S  Every  tncouragemeni  or  ad'vantage  given  to  Cannda  and  Nova 
Scotia  ivill  be  given  in  a  great  miajurt  to  the  Loyatijis,  who  may 
fettle  there,  and  'who  fo  uell  de/ervethem. 

•  A  very  different  fy flan  is  neciffary  for  the  exijlenee  of  govern- 
ment. The  late  miniflert  feem  to  have  ailed  on  Juch  principles  that  if 
tivil  war  or  rebellion  Jhould  arije,  it  cannot  bejufpojcd  any  reafonahlt 
»r  teafcting  man  nviil  fupport  Gr^vtrnmtKi,  till  luhat  hat  been 
dene  is  expiated.  1  he  frovifonat  Aniclei  tell  ut  everv  thins;  it, 
to  be  loji  by  fuf pitting  the  Ltgijlature,  every  thing  to  te  got  by  tf 
btlUoit. 


I  'W 


'iW  iinaiii.^  I 


% 


III': 


OBSERVATIONS 

We  arc  told  it  is  proper  to  court  the  trade  with  the  American 
States,  but  tfeir  treaties  with  France  and  Holland  in  direft  terms 
forbid  our  being  put  on  a  betier  footing   than  thofe  counine*.  • 

The  ftatc  of  our  manufaftures  make  it  ii'  neceflary,  and  nothing 
can  be  more  weak  than  the  idea  of  courting  coiiimcrce.t  America 
will  have  from  us  what  (he  sannot  get  cheaper  and  beter  elfe- 
where,  and  ftic  will  fell  to  us  what  wc  want  from  her  as  cheap  as 
flie  will  to  others.  But  in  other  refpeils  (he  will  affume  a  tone  of 
importance,  (he  will  partake  of  the  nature  of  nsw  men  ;  (he  hai 
indulged  and  will  indulge  in  puerile  infolencc  ;  in  that,  perhaps, 
ftie  will  not  (hew  herfelf  much  unlike  her  parent,  — but  (he  has 
'k  fenfe  and  information  ;  all  her  people  in  fome  (hape  or  t;ther  are 
commercial,  and  in  that  line  particularly  they  are  knowing  and 
,  intelligent. 

•  jirlicle  11.  of  tht  Treaty  of  Commerci  between  France  and  the 
United  Stales  of  Jmerica,  «'  the  molt  Chriftian  King  and  the  Unit- 
ed States  engage  mutually  not  to  grant  any  paritcular  favour  to 
ether  nations,  in  rejped  of  commerce  and  navigation,  •which  jhall  not 
immediately  become  common  to  the  other  party,  nHho  Jhail  enjoy  lie 
fame  favour  freely  " 

+  By  ine(reaual  and  unneceffary  attempts  to  court  Americm 
commerce,  we  (hall  difgult  n-tinns  with  whom  wc  have  great 
intercourfe,  and  prejudice  the  bell  trade  we  have.  Our  exports^ 
to  the  Baltic  and  the  countries  North  of  Holland  are  equal  to' 
what  our  exports  to  the  American  States  were  at  any  time,  and 
more  real  Briti(h  (hipping  has  been  employed  to  the  North,  than 
had  ever  been  employed  to  the  American  States.  Before  the  war, 
very  few  Briti(h  (hips  went  to  the  ports  north  of  Philadelphia  j 
they  went  principally  to  the  Southern  States. 

Lift  ofjhips  thatt  faffed  the  found,  to  and  from  the  Baltic,  for  thre^ 
years  preceeding     1782 

Nation     Ships    in     1779       Ships    in  1780       Ships  in  1781 

Britilh  -  -  -         1651     .     -     -       170!         -   -  «     2001 

Dutch  -  -  -         2075     -     -     -       2058         -   -  .  9 

French  ---  o-»-  o         ---  o 

It  is  curious  toobferve  the  increafe  of  our  (hipping  to  the  Bal- 
tic, and  the  decreafe  of  the  Dutch  in  one  year  from  2058  top 
(hips  only,—  and  that  rot  one  French  (hip  pafliid  the  Sound 
during   three  years.   \^Becaufe    the   Engltjh  had  a  ftronger  fleet.'\ 

The  Briti(h  (hipping  that  went  to  Hamburg  and  other  ports 
of  the  North  was  alfo  very  confidcrable,  butofthezooi  Briti(h 
(hips  that  pafTed  the  Sound  to  and  from  the  Baltic,  the  greater 
part  made  two  voyages,  and  probably  wc  had  nut  more  than  6  or 
700  (hips  employed  io    (hat  uade. 


N  S 

the    American 

in  direft  terms 

BCoiintrie*.  * 

f,  and  noihing 

ce,  f  America 

nd  bet:er    elfe- 

her  as  cheap  as 

fume  a  tone  of 

men  ;  ftie  hai 

that,   perhaps, 

—  but    (he   has 

pe  f^r  ether  are 

;  knowing  and 

intelligent. 

Franci  and  tht 
ng  and  the  Unit- 
cular  favour  to 

•which  Jhall  not 
0  Jhall  tnjoy  tbt 


oiirt  Americ.iii 
we  have  great 
:.  Our  exports 
I  are  equal  to' 
any  time,  and 
ne  North,  than 
Before  the  war, 
Philadelphia  ; 


Baltic,  for  three 

Ihips  in  1781 

-  -  •     2001 

-  -  -  9 


ling  to  the  Bal- 
rem  2058  top 
[led  the  Sound. 
ftronger  fleet.  ] 
md  other  ports 
>e  2001  Britifli 
ic,  the  greater 
more  than  6  or 


O  N     C  O  U  M  E  R  C  E. 


37 


intcllif^ent.  —The  truth  is,  we  want  little  of  her  produce  in 
Gi'.at  Brittin,  coarfo  tobacco  exc-ptcd.  The  hncik  tobacco 
grows  ill  rJic  i/liiids,  and  in  b.^utli  America.  The  indigo  of  the 
iflands  aix?  of  South  Amciica  is,  infinitely  betier  than  that  of 
North  America,  but  wc  mull  take  that  and  naval  llores,  and  other 
crticles  from  tlie  American  States  which  may  be  got  as  good  oc 
be.ter  clkw.iere,  i;i  leturn  for  our  ma!iuf4ilures  inltead  of  money, 
lo  payment,  for  want  of  other  fufHcieut  re  urns,  large  quantities 
ofiib:icco  mull  come  to  Great  Britain,  an<J  we  can  affjrd  to  give 
the  bs(t  pii'.e  for  it,  by  taking  it  in  exchange  for  our  manutaftures. 
The  other  principal  advantage  we  derivpd  from  the  tobacco  trade 
was  t*'e  employment  of  our  fliippmp  and  fijlors;  wf  manufadtured 
little  for  exportation,  we /orttd  it  oily  for  the  European  markets, 
and  we  m^y  Hill  have  the  carri;\^e  cf  much  of  it  from  hence 
to  thofc  markets.  We  fhali  havt-  tianfporis  and  feamen  in  plemy 
iine.npbycd,  to  carry  our  manuf-dures  to  America,  and  to  carry 
on  tlic  trade  of  the  Well  Indies,  and  fo  far  from  giving  up  any 
pf  the  carfying  trade,  we  fhould  exert  ouifelves  to  prevent  out 
unemployed  IVamen  from  palTing  over  to  the  Americans, 

Inftcad  of  exaggerating  the  lofs  fnfFcred  by  the  difmemberment 
of  ihe  enipi.c,  our  thoughts  may  be  tmployed  to  more  advantage 
in  conlidsrin^  what  our  iiiuation  re.lly  is,  and  the  greatcll  advan- 
tage that  can  be  derived  from  it.  It  will  be  found  better  than 
we  expert,  nor  is  the  independence  of  the  AmcricHn  S'.atcs,  not- 
with'Janding  their  connexion  wth  France,  Kktly  to  interfere  with 
lis  fo  eireu.ially  as  has  bfen  apprehended,  except  as  to  the  carrying 
trade,  the  ruriery  for  feamen.  The  cirriage  of  our  produce  i<  no- 
thing in  conipaifon  with  that  of  America  ;  a  few  tobacco  (hips 
will  carry  back  as  much  of  our  man.ifadures  as  all  the  American 
States  will  coufume.  We  mult  thcielore  retain  the  carrying 
trade  wherever  wc  poffibly  can.  —  But  the  demand  for  our  manu- 
fafturcs  will  continually  increafe  with  the  population  of  America. 
Thofe  who  have  been  difpofed  to  de^por^d  may  comfort  themfelves 
with  the  profpfft,  that  if  the  American  States  ftiould  hereafter  be 
able  to  m^nufafture  for  themfelves,  as  the  confumption  of  the 
tnanufaflurss  of  England  decreafes  with  ihtm,  the  demand  will 
increafeelfewiicre  J  they  will  for  ages  go  op  the  MilDffippi  §  and 
,' ;-  river 


§  Half  the  i\'Iifriffippi  has  been  referved  to  us  by  the  provifional 
treaty  with  the  American  States;  but  the  right  to  the  fialf  where 
the  countryon  both  fides  belongs  to  Spain, 'is  not  mcn;ioiied  in 
t!ie  treaty  with  t.'ic  latter.  If  we  had  kept  the  Floridas,  Britain 
would  have  b.-eo  the  mod  necefTary  ally  to  Spain.  Canada  and 
Nova  Scotia  on  the  back,  and  tlie  Floridas  in  the  fnnt,  would 
awe  and  kc?p  dawn  tlie  enterprizes  of  the  American  Stat.s  againll 
New  Spain.     The  Indians,  who  are  powjrful   towards  the  Flori- 

da>| 


i'1.. 


r,s 


-^^^.-.i^^fe; 


'-  Wj^S 


•rmm 


MBnaMBAi  ■  '  !"■  «)• 


38 


OBSERVATIONS 


river  Sf.  Laurence,  and  by  means  of  a  moft  extraordinary  inland 
navigation,  fupply  regions  infinitely  greater  and  more  fertile,^  and 
capable  of  a  greater  degree  of  population  than  chc  American  States, 
full  of  rivets  navigable  to  their  fource,  f  "  country  four  times  as 
large  as  the  American  States  moll  uiinecefTarily  and  illegally 
given  up,  and  moll  unexpeOedly  by  the  Ameiicans  themfelves, 
which  Congrefs  however  neither  has,  or  will  be  capable  of  con- 
trouling,  and  which,  probably,  will  divide  into  many  indepen- 
dent governments.  But  it  will  be  a  long  time  before  the  Ame- 
ricans  can   manufafturc  for  ihemfclves.     Their  piogrefs  will    bs 

(lopped 


r,'~ . 


.■  ,  si 


das,  mt3Gh  more  fo  than  clfewhere,  will  foon  be  incited  againft  the 
Spaniards.  They  will  be  fiipplied  with  arms  and  ammunition.— 
Thofe  provinces  would  have  been  a  good  barrier  between  the 
American  States  and  our  iflands.  In  our  hands  they  would 
become  populous  by  the  migration  cf  Lcyalins  and  other  advanta- 
ges, inllead  of  remaining  almoll  defart  under  the  Spaniards, 
and  if  confidercd  as  a  cisrb  on  Spain,  her  trade  might  be  more 
efFeaually  molefted  from  the  harbours  of  Florida,  (  near  which 
every  (hip  from  the  gulph  of  Mexico  and  the  Hav-nah  muft  paO, ) 
than  from  Gibraltar. 

f  It  is  remarkable,  that  there  is  only  one  mile  portage  between 
Cayahoga  river,  that  empties  iifelf  into  lake  Krie,  which  finally 
runs  into  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  river  muOcingum,  which 
runs  into  the  Ohio,  and  communicates  with  tl.e  gulph  of 
Mexico,  Nothwithltanding  the  navigation  of  the  rivers  St. 
Laurence,  and  Mi(fi(rippi  is  obftrirfted  in  Winter  and  Spring ;  in 
the  firll  by  ice,  and  in  the  latter  by'^he  rapidity  of  the  waters  ;  and 
noiwithftanding  the  dillance  is  not  above  60  miles  between  the 
navigable  part  of  the  Potomack  which  runs  into  the  Cheafapeak, 
and  a  navigable  branch  of  the  Ohio,  yet  the  river  St.  Laurence, 
(  the  exclufive  trade  of  which  belongs  to  Britain  )  the  lakes,  the 
Ohio,  and  Mi(ri(rippi  will  be  the  principal  communications  of  the 
vail  country  beyond  the  Allegany  mountains.  .    .    .      ._ 

The  navigation  of  the  Potomack  above  Alexandria  u  indiffer- 
ert.  The  Sofquehanna  being  full  of  rapids  and  fallf,  and  not 
deep,  the  navigation  of  that  river  is  bad.  All  the  rivers  of  the 
American  States  which  run  into  the  oceui  have  in  general  bad  na- 
vigation, and  only  for  flat  boats  from  5  to  30  tons,  except  as  high  as 
the  tide  flows  ;  but  thtMilTilTippi  has  no  tide,  and  the  rivers  which 
fall  into  it  run  through  a  flat  country,  and  are  navigable  to  their 
fources.  Our  iflands,  efpccially  Jamaica,  might  receive  fopplies 
from  the  MiffilTippi  (hips,  while  a  cargo  is  preparing  at  Jamaica, 
might  at  the  proper  feafon  go  up  that  river,  if  it  is  open  to  us,  and 
bring  lumber,  cattle,  mules,  and  fopplies  of  every  kind  except 
(i(h. 


% 


'-«-- 


"''••^m^t  '  '' 


ii^ 


-''^  lijliNiHtfAi^  ** 


'•tV 


T  S 

)rdinary  inland 
are  fertile,  and 
.merican  States, 
ry  four  times  at 
and  ilirgally 
ins  themfelvcs, 
capable  of  con- 
many  indepen- 
cforc  the  Ame- 
logrefs  will  bs 
flopped 


cited  againft  the 
ammunition.— 
r  between  the 
[ids  they  would 
1  other  advanta- 
thc  Spaniards, 
might  be  more 
a,  (  near  wliich 
nah  muft  pafs, ) 

portage  between 

e,  which  finally 

(kingum,  which 

tl.e  gnlph   of 

the   rivers    St. 

and  Spring ;  in 
the  waters  ;  and 
liles  between  the 
he  Cheafapeaic, 
er  St.  Laurence, 
, )  the  lakes,  the 
inications  of  the 

ndria  is  indifTer* 
id  fallr,  and  not 
I  the  rivers  of  the 
1  general  bad  na- 
cxcept  as  high  as 
ih?  rivers  which 
lavigableto  their 
t  receive  fupplies 
ring  at  Jamaica, 
i  open  to  us,  and 
very  kind  except 


■ 


ON      COMMERCE. 


39 


flopped  by  the  high  price  of  labour,  and  the  .more  pleafmg  and 
more  profitable  employment  of  agriculture,  while  frefli  lands  can 
OS  got;  and  the  degree  of  population  neceffary  for  manufafturej 
cannot  be  expcfted,  while  a  fpirit  of  emigration,  efpecially  from 
the  New  England  provinces  to  the  interior  parts  of  the  continent, 
rages  full  as  much  as  it  has  ever  done  from   Europe  to  America. 

Ifmanufaaurers  fliould  emigrate  from  Europe  to  America,  at 
lead  nine.tcntlvs  will  become  farmers  ;  they  will  not  work  at 
manufaftiires  when  they  can   get  double  the  profit   by  farming,* 

No  American  articles  arc  fo  neceffary  to  us,  as  our  manufaftures 
&c.  are  to  the  Americans,  and  almoft  every  article  of  the  produce  of 
the  American  States,  which  is  brought  into  Europe,  we  may  have 
atleaftas  good  and  as  cheap,  if  not  better,  elfewhere.  Both  as  a 
friend  and  an  enemy  America  has  been  burthenfome  to  Great 
Britain,  It  may  be  fome  fatisfaftion  to  think,  that  by  breaking 
oiF  rather  prematurely,  Great  Britain  may  find  herfelf  in  a  better 
fituation  inrcfpedlto  America,  than  if  (he  had  fallen  off  when 
more  ripe. 

America  never  furniflied  us  with  many  failors ;  more  than  I.alf 
the  number  employed  by  the  American  States  during  the  war, 
were  not  Americana.  In  the  Southern  Provinces,  Britift  and 
Iriftj  failors  principally  were  employed  before  the  war;  in  all  the 
Other  colonics,  they  were  half  Uritilh  and  half  Americans,  except 

in 


The  emigrant!  from  Europe  to  the  American  States  will  be 
mifcrably  diiappointed  ;  however  having  got  into  a  fcrape,  they 
may  wi(h  to  lead  others  after  them.  When  the  numberlefs  diifi- 
culdes  of  adventurcij  and  llrangers  are  f.irmounicd,  they  will 
find  it  neceffary  to  pay  taxes,  to  avoid  which  probably  they  left 
home,  and  in  the  cafe  of  Britons,  gave  up  great  advantages.  The 
fameexpenc-,  the  fame  indulby  that  becoine  abfolutely^neceffary 
to  fave  them  from  finking  in  Amsric.i,  if  properly  employed  in 
moll  parts  ofT.urope,  would  give  a  good  enablilhment,  and  with- 
out  the  entire  facrL-Jcc  of  the  dea.-ell  friends  a-id  conneaions, 
whcfe  fociety  will  be  ever  lamented,  and  whofc  affillance,  although 
not  to  be  exerted  at  the  moment,  might  at  other  times  be  moll 
important. 

The  abfolute  neceffity  of  great  exertions  of  indiiflry  and  toil, 
added  to  the  want  of  opportunity  of  diffipation  in  the  folitary  life 
ofnewfetilers,  and  the  difficulty  and  ftiamc  of  returning  home 
alone  fupport  them  there.  They  find  their  golden  drcaoi  ends! 
at  moft,  in  the  poffeffion  of  a  tradlofw^ld  uncultivated  land 
fubjeft  in  many  cafes  to  the  inroads  of  the  proper  and  more 
amiable  owners,   the  Indians. 

Emigration  is  the  natural  refourfc  of  the  culprit,  and  of  thoft 
who  have  made  themfelves  the  objeft  of  contempt  and  neglea* 
but  It  II  by  nQ  means  neceffary  to  the  induftrioui. 


':1& 


i 


f  : 


0 


OBSERVATIONS 


5„  New  Enel.-.nd.  three  fo'irths  were   native,.      In  the   time  of  her 
Pennfvlvar.n  w'.s    .8     >t.:r.    I    J'^^  '   ^^j,/  „,  the  rate  of 

i  i;rK;;,r«i.^ou,h  .a,,  neve,  P  '^„--^-b-  -'°-'- 

a  vMi   currci.cy,  compU.n.d   greatly  ot  her  tnxcs.  _  ^ 

hwill  not  b.^^n  .r.(v   mat-.r.- t.   bring  lh«    American   States    to 

.ft  Ji  n.tion  ■  they  are  nnt  to  b=  te  .r.d    as  f.ch  by  us.     It  moll 
aft  as  a  nation,  trey  ar  ^^  ^.j,    ^^^^^^  ,,,  ^^^ 

'\?ei:i'e   pcHc       A    St!.p    ad.'a'Tea    aa,  0.   fuch  aft   that 
materia   «F "'"•  ,/  g,^,,^   ,„i,c  thpm  ;  their   climate. 


..d  ,.a.-«hkh  i,  hc,:;fid.v .:."„;;■;;  s»;.uii..  ">  •.'-"''■■"j.  ■"„ 


,  ,;„,-r-    the   e\n«rcc  of  our  eftabliihment  in 

•  Before  ''•■«=  ^^'''^ 'V'' l-'.  1th -o  ace  of  .76*  to  the  time   of 
America  was   70.C00I.     iMo.n  tn     P    '^^*  ^J J 
,hc  Stamp   aa.    K  was    370.ooo|    y^.n^    a.ho.gh^^^  ^_^^_^^^ 
were  ''"-n    rom  N^nh  A^.  -^  ^^^^^ 

;tVrBoardtas^e5!b;;L-d    tot.e.th  of  January  .,75.  «';- 

n,oreth...  f-n  years  ;  -;°  XT  K  *:-!,.:«  ^. as  th.  q.it-rent,, 
to  be    dcduaed.      1  he     n.iy  uwui  expence  of 

which  were  never  tolerably  P,''''''    .^'  ^ J';^;j.P    ,1    the  commerce 

colleain..  ''•-%--"''^;"^;Va  ,r^i.  h^l  without  the  ex- 
of  the  American  Hates,  or  ^^^^  '''' •  ;\„,^  vithout  the  extra- 
pence  of  their  govc-run,eP.ta.d^prt.nn    ^^J       ^^    ^,^„    .,, 

vsganccofb.unt.es  wo  Id  -  '^^'^'y^,  .,,.„  ,,„,,ica  wete  ta 
monopoly,  luch  ai  u  .^«^-     f  '    '  ,^  f,^„  ^jiliorn   were  l]n- 

,!,c  an,onnt  ot  four  -"''''^  ',;'','?;;  1^:1  and  one  f.om  the 
;S;r^/rif  St  p;^f':^Wt   t;.e„   through    Great 

^ti^n  of  the  .inth  ^^;;-^-;^^:;^ric^s:;;^;^ 


ji" 


5 

he  time  of  Iier 
i.ic;.  She  will 
rxpence  of  the 
Ihis  coniitry.  * 
oool.  ftsrliiip, 
5,  at  the  rate  of 
iloiial  property, 
above   20,oool. 

-ican   States    to 
y  us.     It  mull 
concur  in  any 
I-   fuch  aa   thaC 
their   climate, 
tereftj  oppofitc; 
1  the  other.     In 
nxacme  folly  to 
not   wi(h  to    be 
teri-il  advantage 
jni,    more  than 
msdc    with   the 
of  ihem.     The 
form  more  than 
iii   authority  of 
Congrcfs, 


eftabliihment  in 
}  to  the  time  of 
ugh  the  French 
id  the  Floridas 
sptcmhcr,  1767, 
jary  1775.  when 
30I.  for  a  little 
e  of  collcfting  is 
;  the  quit-rents, 
d  the  expcnce  of 
alf  the  commerce 

without  the  ex- 
i^ithout  the  extra- 

for  11'  than  the 
Ametica  weie  to 
illioiis  were  Uti- 
id  one  fiom  the 
I    through    Great 

iCt  Provided  that 
c  Icgiflative  pow- 

m  impofing  f»*^*» 
iippolli 


ON    COMMERCE. 


41 


Congrcfs,  the  power  in  qtiedion  was  with-held  by  the  ftveral 
Stat.-s.  No  treaty  that  could  be  made  would  fuit  the  difjcrene 
interclb.  When  treaties  ore  ncceflary,  they  mull  be  made  with 
the  States  feparatcly.  liach  ftate  has  reA-rved  every  power  relative 
to  imports,  exports,  prohibitioiij,  duties,  Sec.  to  itfslf.  But 
no  treaty  At  prefent  is  necclTary.  We  trade  with  i'everal  very 
confiderablc  nations,  without  commercial  treaties.  The  new  cale 
and  the  necelFuy  of  enquiry  and  full  confidcration,  make  it 
improper  for  us  to  hurry  any  engagements  that  may  poflibly  injure 
our  navigation.  When  men  talk  of  liberality  and  reciprocity  in 
commercial  matters,  it  is  clear,  either  that  they  have  no  argument 
or  no  knowledge  of  the  fnbjed  that  they  are  fiipporting  a  favourite 
hypothefis  or  that  they  are  intcrclled  ^  it  is  not  friendlhtp  or  favour, 
but  exaftncfs  and  punrtiiality,  that  is  looked  for  in  commerce. 

Our  great  national  uh'}ei\  is  to  raife  as  many  failors  and  as  much 
fliipping  as  poflibie;  fo  far  afls  of  parliament  may  have  tffeil ; 
but  neither  adi  of  pailiam.>nt  nor  treaties,  in  matters  merely  com- 
mercial, will  have  any  force,  farther  than  the  intercfls  of  inividuali 
coincide;  and  where  advantage  is  to  be  got  the  individual  will 
porfuc  it.  It  is  repeated,  that  the  capital  part,  at  lead  four- 
fifths,  of  the  itnportaiions  from  Europe  into  the  American  Stale* 
were  at  all  times  made  upon  credit,  and  that  the  States  arc  iu 
greater  want  of  credit  at  this  time  than  at  former  periods.  It 
can  be  had  only  in  Great  Britain.  The  French  who  gave  them 
credit  are  all  bankrupts  :  French  merchanlr  cannot  give  much. 
The  Dutch  have  not  truned  them  to  any  amount;  and  it  is  not 
fheir  cuftom  to  give  credit  but  on  the  beft  fi-cnrity.  It  is  there- 
fore obvious  from  this  and  the  furegoing  Hate  of  imports  and  ex- 
ports into  what  dianneh  the  commerce  of  the  American  States 
mild  inevitably  flow,  and  that  nearly  four- fifths  of  their  importa- 
tions  will  be  from  Gicdt  Britain  dirciily.      Where    articles  are 

f  neatly 


impoRs  and  duties  on  foreigners,  as  their  own  people  are  fubjeft 
to,  or  from  prohibiting  tlie  exportation  or  importation  of  any 
fpscits  of  goods  or  commodities  whatfoever  ;  of  ellablifhing  rules 
for  deciding  in  all  cafes  what  captures  on  land  or  water  (hall  be 
legal,  and  in  what  manner  prizes  taken  by  land  or  naval  forces  in 
the  fervice  of  the  American  States  ihall  be  divided  or  appropriated; 
of  granting  letters  of  marque  and  reprifal  in  times  of  peace; 
appointing  cjiirts  for  the  trial  of  piracies  and  felonies  committed 
on  the  high  feas ;  and  eilabliibing  courts  dr  receivinjj  and 
determining,  finally,  appeals  in  all  cafes  of  C3[  turcs. 

The  fixth  article  fays,  No  State   (hall  lay  any  duties  which  may 

interfere  with  Uipulations  in  trcaiics  entered  into  by  the  Amcricnn 

,    Statei,    in   Congrcfs    sfTcmbled,    v.ith   any  Prince  or  State,    in 

porfuance  of  any   treaties  Hreaiiy  pit-pofcd  to  the  courts  of  France 

^^^  •od  Spain.    TheCoiifedtriticnisdiittd  ibcjifh  Of  Ji 'y,  i77iJ. 

^*'-. .       lip 


€. 


i 


IP 


5^*;l 


H^  -^"■"'r^^ 


ilH ■»  »i 


42 


O  B  5 


E  R  V  A  T  I  O  N  S 


'h 


%r 


...,lv  canal  the  fuperior  credit  nfTarJed  by  England  vnll  always 
cv  fhcSr-ncc;  arc)  u  is  probable  m.ny  foreign  arMcle, 
^H  In  tS  An-erica  .luoush  Gnat  Bii.ai.>.  The  Amcr.cans  fend 
£sCbe  lo^d  a  wi,h  afl  for.,  of  Eovopcan  goods  :  |n  our  ports 
Jll^articles  Lay  be  £<u  wuh  difpUcb  ;  .  mort  winnu.g  ccmftancc 

'"l-Vc  pr.3  nt  Bermuda,  .he  Weft  Indie.  &c,    lave  b.^n  fuggea- 

°Je^Js\rdiv"di       rwi;h%\he>^^^  '   A.cricn.  or  ue    (hipping  of 
Tny    a;  on,  lUllcar.y  from  them  on.  Weft  I.d.n  Pl°<^"« -^-.^ 

;;:rJ^irj;ir^;e^^s{(V;:.cd.^ 
iSgdom  bef^bjca to^^d  pay  t,.  -^ -^  -:ri;;:n -^z 

pole,      inc   cNfJci  t  liiitHh   mirchmt  will 

.0  b=  kept  as  bvv  as  ^  mb-;.      5  ^-»  -^^    ^^^^5^^^,^   ^^,^h„„, 

n^lt'd^rrdtCn; America;  merchant,  and  afecurhy 
and  iiducem  n,  ,0  the  Bntift.  merchant  to  anfwer  the  Amencau 
ciders  for  good,,  previous  to  the  falc  of  the  article,  (hipped  to  h.m 

%^vThTs"J;  (hould  hare  the  carrying  from  hence  the  fev.ral 

fo  cther^ountne,  ;  thereby  F""""g;^•;  "'^  "f„„hTot  Jb  ad- 

luch  anicUs  a,  ihe  Ame.ican  Stages  n!ay  want  frc...  olcr  conn.nes 


[  s 

id  will  always 
)reign  articles 
iincricans  fend 
:  in  our  p-irts 
a  circumilancc 

o 

e  boeii  Tuggeft- 
Id    be  dangrr- 
ibtcdly  be   (he 
e    (hipping  of 
produce  where 
ptionablc  ;  but 
[he  produce  and 
nly   in  (hips  ol 
1    a   ("ale  can  be 
patt  of  Europe, 
he  produce  and 
umption  in  ihe 
es  which  aje,  or 
:  as  (hall  be  rc- 
a  rate;  per  cent, 
certificates  and 
:d  for  that   pur- 
;.  however  ought 
I   mirchmt  will 
icrican,   without 
going  from  one 
B  bill  market  to 

oH  nccelTary  and 
e,  center  in  this 
ing  able  to  make 
obliged  to  go  in 
heir  cfFcfts  at  the 
arket  which  can 
fally  low  on  the 
!  of  them,  will  be 
mt,  and  a  fecarity 
sr  the  American 
les  (hipped  to  him 

e  the  fev?ral  ar- 
This  might  in  a 
States  from  going 
king  from  thence 
ihoo"h  not (o  ad- 
,  through  Britain,., 
oir.  otlicr  countries 
wbicb 

0' 


ON     COMMERCE. 


43 


which  till:  country  does  not  fupply.  The  articlcj  (linnKl  be  plared 
in  public  floic'J,  ;ind  only  ihicc  or  (our  pou:.  allowed  lo  rcceiie 
them.  Bonding  is  alloW'd  at  every  poit,  tvcii  the  moll  infignifi. 
cant,  and  the  bonded  .irticles  arc  kept  in  piivste  (lores.  It  gives 
an  opening  to  fmupglii.g  anil  tva(ioiis,  and  tocrc  Ij  much  nbufe 
under  pretence  of  re-exportation.  France  is  net  without  the  idea 
of  opening  ports  in  the  manner  r.ow  mciuio.ird  The  idea  is 
fuggcilcd  f>ir  confideiiti  in,  and  may  be  w:rtliy  attention. 

The  f.ifts  on  whict)  tlii-fs  obrfrvniinns  are  founded  were  not  by 
any  means  lightly  taken  up;  thty  hnve  b^rn  minutely  and  care- 
fully enquired  into,  and  iliiiflly  examined,  tr;;cci3lly  tliftfe  which 
are  in  any  jjrcat  degree  nut. 'rial ;  but  there  may  h<:  midakcs,  al- 
though every  precaution  has  been  t.^kea  to  avoid  (licm.  The 
obfcrvations  htve  been  thrown  out  as  they  occurred,  in  a  hurry, 
and  without  a  nice  etiention  to  meiliod  or  oinjment.  The  pur- 
pofe,  however,  will  be  anfwered,  if  they  fliould  lead  men  to  fee 
the  nccclfity  of  maiiuaining  the  fpirit  (if  our  navigation  laws, 
which  we  feemcd  almoll  to  have  forgi.t,  although  to  them  we 
owe  cur  confequence,  our  power,  and  almoll  every  great  national 
advantage.  The  Navigation  aO  gave  us  tlie  trad^ofthe  world; 
if  we  altrr  that  at\,  by  pcrmicing  nny  (late  to  trade  with  our 
iflands,  or  by  f..(Fcriiig  any  (late  lo  cirry  itito  il.is  country  any 
produce  but  its  own,  wcdcfert  the  Navigation  aft,  and  facrifice 
the  marine  of  England.  Eut  if  the  principle  of  the  Navigation 
aft  is  properly  undcrftcod,  and  well  follo.vfcl,  this  country  may 
flill  be  Lis  and  ^^icnu  The  Miniflcrs  will  find,  when  the  coun- 
try underftands  iLc  qucdion,  that  the  principle  of  the  Navigation 
aft  muft  be  kept  entire,  and  that  tiie  carrying  trade  mull  not  jii 
any  decree  be  given  up.  -~The  Minilkrs  will  f.e  the  precipice 
on  which  they  (land  ;  any  ne<;left  or  mifmanagennent  in  this  point, 
or  abandoned  policy  to  gain  a  fjw  votes,  will  inevitably  bring  on 
ii)cir  dowiifal,  even  mote  dc.'e'vedly  th?,o  tiie  niiferdble  peac; 
b.ought  on  that  ofthcir  prcdeccirors  ;  and  as  the  o.ifchicfwill  b« 
wore  wanton,  their  fall  (hould  be  mor^  ignominious.  Their 
condufton  this  occafion  ought  to  be  the  teft  of  their  abilities  and 
good  management,  and  ought  t"  decide  tl.c  <^?gice  of  coiilidcrcc 
tiicre  (hould  be  placed  in  them  in  future.  This  country  has  not 
found  itfclf  in  a  more  interelling  fituation  ;  it  is  now  to  be  decided 
whether  we  arc  to  Vc  reined  by  the  independence  of  Atneiica 
or  not.  The  peace  in  ccmparifon  was  a  trilling  obj;ft  j  and  if 
the  negleft  of  one  iotcrcll  more  than  another  dcfcives  itiipeach- 
Dient,  Aireiy  it  will  be  the  ncgleft  of  this. 


£ 


N      D. 


^^     I 


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ij*»auiiH^jj^    »■:■ 


A    N 


ESSAY 


-*M^ 


O    N 


4' 


Canon  and  Feudal  Law. 


,  I 


'13't" 


ir^:*'' 


By    JOHN    ADAMS,    Esquire  j 


■^i  Aj 


MBASSADOR  PLENIPOTENTIARY,  from  tlic 
United  and  Independent  States  of  North  America, 
To  their  High  Miohtineses  the  States    General  of  the 
United    Provinces    of   Holland. 

To   which   is  Annexed,  the  Political  Charafter  of  the  faid 

^  .     ]  O  H  N    ADAMS,    Esquire  j 


By     AN      AMERICAN. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
Printed  ar.d  Sold  by   Robert   BELL,    in   Third-Street,  4 


M,DCC,  LX  XXIH. 


4       *i. 

* 


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Jd^M^uiim'"-' 


wmmi^'''^—^ 


»PW— W      I  ml 


Law. 

QUIRE  } 

i  R  Y,  from  the 
TH  America, 

Ieneral  of  the 

D. 

r  of  the  faid 
UIRE  } 

N. 


I   A: 

N  Third-Street, 


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S     S     A     Y 


O    N 


Canon    and    Feudal   Law. 


* 


•'TGNORANCE  and  inronfideratioo,  are  the  two  great 
X  caiifea  of  the  miu  of  mankind."— This  is  an  obfctvaiion  of 
Dr.  Tillot/on,  with  relation  to  the  intcreft  of  his  fellow-mcii,  in  « 
future  and  immortal  flatc:  But  it  is  of  equal  truth  and  importance, 
if  applied  to  the  happincfs  of  men  in  fociety,  on  this  tide  the 
grave. —In  the  earlielt  agfs  of  the  world,  ao/olute  Monarchy  fcems 
to  have  been  the  univcrfal  form  of  government.  —  Kings,  and  a 
few  of  their  great  counfcllors  and  captain^',  exercifcd  a  cruel 
tyranny  over  ihe  people  who  held  a  rank  in  the  fcale  of  intelligence, 
in  thofe  days,  but  little  higher  than  the  camels  and  elephants,  that 
that  carried  them  and  their  engines  to  war. 

By  what  caufes  it  was  brought  to  pafs,  that  the  people  in  the 
middle  ages,  became  more  intelligtHt  in  generpi,  would  not 
perhaps  be  poflible  in  thefe  days  to  difcover:  But  c  ,0  >  f\  \%  certain, 
and  wherever  a  general  knowledge  and  fenfibility  have  prevniied 
among  the  people,  arbitrary  government  and  every  kind  of 
opprefliun  have  leflened  and  difappeared  in  proportion. .~  Man 
has  certainly  an  exalted  foul!  and  the  fame  principle  in  human 
nature;  that  afpiring  noble  principle,  founded  in  benevolence  and 
cheriftied  by  knowledge ;  I  mean  the  love  of  power,  which  has 
been  fo  often  the  caul'e  of  JIavery,  has,  whenever  freedom  has 
exifled,  been  the  caufc  of  freedom.  If  it  is  this  principle,  that 
has  always  prompted  the  princes  and  nobles  of  tlie  earth,  by  every 
fpecics  of  fraud  and  violence,  to  (hake  off  all  the  limitations  of 
their  power ;  it  is  the  fame  that  has  always  (limulated  the  common 
people  to  afpire  at  independency,  and  to  endeavour  at  confining 
the  power  of  the  great,  within  the  limits  of  equity  andreafon. 

The  poor  people,  it  is  true,  have  been  much  Irfs  fuccefsful 
than  the  great  —  They  have  feldom  found  either  leifure  or  oppor- 
tunity to  form  an  union  and  exert  their  (Irength  —  ignorant  as  they 
were  of  aits  and  letters,  they  have  feldom  been  able  to  frame  and 
fupport  a  regular  oppofition.     This,  however,   hai   been  known, 

•  Jf^roti  at  an  early  period  of  Mr.  AdamCt  Life, 

m 


m 


!ie! 


-^mm 


-■*"'?-• 


I' 


^r- 


H 


}m 


"l""~' 


4« 


!■  .■' 


^-•t 


*v 


;v!i#, 


ON    THE    CANON 


by  the  great,  to  bs  tliC  trmpcr  of  mankind,  mid  they  have  accnrd- 
inely  laboured,  in  all  agcr,  to  well  from  -he  populace,  as  ihty 
arc  oontcmptuoufly  called,  the  knowledge  of  .heir  rigl.ti  and 
wrongs,  ard  the  p-wtr  to  afTcrt  the  former  or  redrel.  the  latter.  I 
fay  Rights,  lor  fuel,  they  have,  undoubtedly,  a.iicWdert  to  all 
earthly  govfrrmcnt—  Rights,  that  cannot  be  repealed  or  red  mined 

by    human  I.^ws R'i^hi,,  derived    from   the  great    LegiOatof 

ot  the  UDivcrfe. 

Since  the  piomulgation  of  chiirtianity,  the  two  greatcft  fyftems 
of  tyranny,  that  have  fprunn;  from  tl.ii:  oti.^inal,  are  lie  canon  and 
the //Wa/law— Thedefiie  of  dominion,  that  gicat  piinnplc  by 
which  we  have  attempted  to  accoiiHt  for  fj  much  good,  audio 
much  evil,  is,  when  propcily  rcllraincd,  a  vciy  ufefnl  and  rools 
movement  in  the  human  irind  :  but  when  luch  rellraints  arc  taken 
ofF,  it  becomes  an  enciiachinj^,  gtafping,  rclllefs  and  ungovein- 
able  power.  NumbeiUfs  have  been  the  lyllems  of  iniquity,  con- 
trived by  the  great,  for  the  gratification  of  this  paflion  in  them- 
feives.:  but  in  none  of  them  were  ihiy  ever  more  lucccfstul,  than 
in  the   iiiVcntion   and  cllablilhmer.l  ot  tt,e  <•««««  and  the  Jeudal 

law.  ,  , ,.  , 

By  the  former  of  thefe,  the  moll  refined,  fublimc,  exfcnitvc, 
sud  aftonifhing  conflivution  of  policy,  that  ever  was  conceived 
by  the  mind  of  man,  was  framed  by  the  Romifh  clersy  for 
the  agc'andifcmcnt  of  their  own  order.  All  the  epithets  I  have 
here  given  to  the  Romilh  policy  arc  joft ;  and  will  be  allovcd  to 
be  for  when  it  is  confidered,  that  they  even  perfuaded  mankind  to 
believe,  faithfully  and  undoubiingly  that  Gou  Almichtv  had 
intrufted   them  with  the  keys  of  heaven,  whofe  gates  they    might 

open  and  cloie  at  plcafme with  a  power  of  difpenfation  over 

all  the  rules  and  obligations  of  morality—  with  authority  to  licenfe 
all  forts  of  fins  and  crimes  — with  a  power  of  depofing  princes,  and 
abfolving  fubjetls  from  allegiance  —  with  a  power  of  procnring  or 
withholding  the  rain  of  heaven,  and  the  beams  of  the  fun  —  with 
the  manaoement  of  earthquakes,  pcftilence  and  famine  —  Nay, 
with  the  mylleriouj,  awful,  incomprehenfiblc  power  «»  ""ting 
out  of  bread  and  wine,  the  flclh  and  blood  of  God  himfclf.  —  All 
thefe  opinions  tlicy  were  enabled  to  fprcad  and  rivet  among  the 
people,  by  reducing  tlieir  minds  to  a  Hate  of  fordid  ignorance  and 
rtaring  timidity  ;  and  by  infufiog  into  them  a  religioui  horror  of 
letters  and  knowledge.  Thus  was  hum.m  nature  chained  fad  for 
agef ,  in  a  cruel,  fhameful,  and  deplorable  le.vitude,  to  him  and 
his  fubordinatc  tyrants  ;  who,  it  was  foretold,  would  exalt  himielt 
above  all  that  was  cillcd  Goo,  and  that  was.woilhipped. 

In  the  laturwo  find  atimher  f/ltcm  fimilar  in  many  refpefls  to 
the  former  ;  which  although  it  was  originally  formed  perhaps  for 
the  ncceflary  defence  of  a  barbarous  people,  againft  the  inroads  ard 
invafions  of  her  neighbouring  nations  ;  yet,  for  the  fame  piirpofes 
cf  tyranny,  cruelty  and  lull,   which  had  dittaied  the  rfl«<?»  law,  »t 


;»* 


•  ~.«  ■■-^Ssw^feiew-;  :„.u   '  -iiV?* 


mmKXHMiSPPiitfn* 


-1  miA  "I 


>  N 

y  have  accnrd- 
ulace,  as  ihty 
(ir  rigliti  and 
I  (he  Itttcr.  I 
iicMdert  to  all 
:d  or  rell  rained 
cat    Legiila'.ur 

»reatc(l  fyftcms 
;  U  f  cation  and 
It  principle  by 
good,  and  fo 
:fiil  and  noble 
raiiits  arc  taken 
and  ungovevn- 
iiiiqnity,  con- 
aflion  in  them- 
ucccfsful,  ilian 
and  the  feudal 

mc,    extcnfivc, 
was   conceived 
T»i(h    clergy  for 
epithets  I  have 
1  be   allov'cd  tu 
dcd  mankind  to 
LMiCHTV  had 
tes  thry    might 
ifpenfation  over 
hority  to  licenfe 
ing  princei,  and 
of  procuring  or 
the  fun  —  with 
famine.  —  Nay, 
3wer  of  creating 
,  himfelf.  —  All 
rivet  among  the 
d  ignorance  and 
ligiiui  horror   of 
:  chained  fad  for 
jde,  to  him   and 
luld  exalt  himfelf 
hipped. 

many  refpe£ts  to 
inicd  perhaps  for 
[I  the  inroads  and 
he  fame  purpofes 
the  caMH  law,  it 
,    .wa« 


AND    FEUDAL     LAW 


47 


was  foon  adopted  by  nimoft  all  tlic  Princes  of  Europe,  and  wrought 
into  the  conllitiiiion;  of  their  jjovcrnnKat.  —  It  was  originally 
t  code  of  law: ,  for  a  vaft  army  in  a  perpi  tjal  cm  ampment.->  The 
general  v/as  invellcd  with  the  fovcrtiirn  pr  pticiyof  all  i^te  lands 
within  the  territory.  —  Ol  him,  as  his  fervants  and  vaffils,  the 
firlV  rank  of  his  great  officer-  helJ  the  landi  ;  and  in  the  fame  man- 
ner, the  other  fubnrdina'.e  officers  held  <if  thi:m  ;  and  all  ranks  and 
degree),  held  theirlinds,  by  a  variety  of  duties  and  fervices,  ail  tend- 
ing to  bind  the  chains  the  falter,  on  every  oider  of  mankind,  in 
this  mnnncr,  the  common  people  were  holdcn  togrtlicr,  in  herds  and 
clans,  in  a  flate  of  fcrvilc  dependence  on  thrir  lords;  bound  even  by 
the  tenure  of  their  lands  to  follow  them,  whenever  they  were  com- 
manded, to  their  wart  ;  and  in  a  Hate  of  total  ignorance  of  every 
thing  divine  and  human,  excepting  the  ufi.  of  arms,  and  the  cul- 
ture of  their  lands. 

But,  anotiicr  event  ftill  mart:  calamitous  to  human  libsrty,  was 
a  wicked  conf.«d3ra:/,  between  th:  f.vo  fyftems  of  tyranny  above 
defcribed  —It  ftcms  t;j  have  been  even  ilipulated  between  them, 
that  the  temporal   gratidecs  (honid    contribute  every  thing  in  thcic 

f»ovver  to  maintain  the  afccndency  of  the  priefthood  ;  and  that  the 
piritual  grandees,  in  their  turn,  flioiild  employ  that  afccndency 
over  the  confcicucei  of  iho  people,  in  imprefTiog  on  their  minds, 
■  blind,  implicit* obedience  to  civil  magiflracy.  — 

Thus,  as  long  as  this  confederacy  Tailed,  and  the  people  were 
held  in  i;;norance  ;  Liberty,  and  with  her,  knowledge,  and  vir- 
tue too,  feem  to  have  defcrted  tlie  earth  ;  and  one  age  of  darknels 
furceeeded  another,  tilt  God,  in  his  benign  Providence,  raifed 
up  the  champions,  who  began  and  conduftcd  the  Reformation. 
From  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  to  the  firft  fettlement  of 
America,  knowledge  gradually  fpiead  in  Europe,  but  efpecialiy  in 
England  ;  and  in  proportion  a»  that  increafed  and  fpread  among 
the  people,  ecclefiaflical  and  civil  tyranny,  which  I  ufe  as  fyno- 
nymous  cxpreffions,  for  the  (amn  and  fmdal  laws,  feem  to  havo 
loft  their  llrength  and  weight.  The  people  grew  more  and  mora 
fcafible  of  the  wrong  that  was  done  them,  by  thefe  fyllems ;  mora 
and  more  impatient  under  it  ;  and  determined  at  all  hazards  to  rid 
themfelves  of  it ;  till,  a:  laft,  under  the  execrable  race  of  the 
Stuarts,  the  ftruggie  between  the  people  and  the  confederacy 
afoicfaid  of  temporal  and  fpiritual  tyranny,  became  f.)rmidable, 
violent  and  bloody.  — — 

It  was  thir  great  ftniggle  that  peopled  America.  —  It  was  net 
religion  alone,  as  is  commonly  fuppofed  ;  but  it  was  a  love  of 
univtrlal  liberty,  and  au  hatred,  a  dread,  an  horror  of  the  infernal 
confedericy  before  defcribed,  that  prcjetled,  conduflcd,  and 
accomplifhed  the  fettlement  of  America.— 

It  was  a  tefolution  formed  by  a  fenfible  people,  I  mean  the 
Puritans  almoft  in  defpair.  They  had  become  inteliir;nt  in 
general,  and    many  of    them  learsed.— For  this   faft  I  have  the 

iiftiroony 


V% 


•  ♦   ' 


■ifeil-i'llilffi,? 


48 


ON     THE     CANON 


I  {' 


IfiTim'  11/ of  Aiclibiihiip  i^hn  h\mh\f,  wiio  (.Iifeivcd  of  that  peop!*, 
that  ilu-y  were  more  i  itelli^ent,  and  Ih-iici  ic.id  than  even  die 
mcnibcri  of  the  cliurrii  whom  he  cent"  tcs  warmly  for  that  realbn.-« 
'J'liis  people  had  been  io  vexed,  and  iMtiired  ly  the  powers  of  thofe 
dayf,  ti)r  no  other  (time  than  their  knowledfi-,  and  their  freedom  ' 
of  enquiry  nnd  eNnmimtion  ;  ,-iiid  ihey  liad  Io  inurh  re»foi)  to 
defpair  of  dcli\eran(c  from  thofc  mifcries  on  that  fide  the  ocean, 
that  tlicy  at  lall  rcfolvjd  to  Ry  to  the  nuiluernt/t  for  refuj;r,  fiom 
the  lemp-iral 'ind  fpirittial  print  ipniitics  and  powers,  and  plagues, 
and  fctJiirges  of  ilieir  native  countiy. 

After  their  nrrival  here,  they  began  their  fettlcmcnt,  and  form* 
ei]  their  plan  both  of  cr(  Icfialdcal  and  civil  government,  in  di« 
rcfl  oppofiilon  io\\\c  canon  and  ihc fiuJal  fyftetri.  The  leading 

men  amoMjr  them,  both  of  the  clergy  ai.d  the  laity  were  men  of 
fcnfeand  learning:  To  many  of  ihcin,  (i;c  hilloriaiii,  orators, 
pott;  and  philofophcrs  (-f  Greece  and  Rome  were  quite  familiar: 
and  fomc  of  them  have  left  libraries  that  are  Hill  in  b-ing,  con* 
filling  ohiefly  of  voiumcj,  in  which  ihe  wifdom  of  the  moll  en. 
lighttned  ages  and  natiom  is  depofited,  written  Imwevcr  in  langua- 
j^es,  whicli  their  great  grandfin;,  thtugh  tducattd in  Eiirotian  Uhi- 
•vtrfiiiis,  can  fcarccly  read. 

Thus  accomplilhed  were  many  of  the  firft  planter';  of  ihefe  colo- 
nics. It  may  be  ihongiif  polite  and  fafhionable,  by  many  modern 
fine  gemlcmer,  perhaps,  to  deride  the  cliaraflers  of  thcfe  pcifoiis 
as  enthufiallical,  fuperftitious  and  republican  :  But  fuch  ridicule  is 
founded  in  nolhirg  but  foppery  and  afFcrtation,  and  is  grofly  inju- 
rious and  falfe.— Religious  to  fome  dtgrec  of  cntjiufiafm,  it  may  be 
admitted  they  were;  but  this  can  he  no  peculiar  derojjaiioiifrom  tlieic 
ciiarac'lcr,  bccaufe  it  was  at  that  time  almofl  the  univerfal  charadtr, 
not  only  of  England  but  of  Chrillrndom.  Had  this  however  been 
othcrwifc,  their  erthuftafm,  conGdering  the  principUu  in  which  it 
waS/foundcd  and  the  end  to  which  it  was  direftcd,  far  from  being  a 
reproach  to  them,  was  greatly  to  their  honour:  for  I  bclitve  it  will  be 
found  univcrfally  true,  that  no  great  cnterprize,  for  the  honour  or 
happincfs  of  mankind,  was  ever  atchieved  without  a  large  mixture  of 
that  noble  infirmity.  Whatever  impcrfeftions  may  bi  jiiflly 
afcribcd  to  them,  which  however  arc  as  few  as  any  mortals  have 
difcovcrcd,  their  judgment  in  framirg  their  policy  was  four.dcd  in 
wife,  humsne  and  bcnet'olent  principles.  it  was  founded  in 
rcvslation  and  in  reafon  too  :  It  was  confident  with  the  principles 
cf  the  bell,  and  greatcrt,  and  wifcil  legiflators  of  antiquity.——- 
Tyranny  in  every  farm  (h.ipe  and  appearance,  was  their  difdain 
and  abhorrence;  no  f^ar  of  puniihmcnt,  nor  even  death  iifcif,  in 
cxquifitc  tortures,  had  teen  fufricicnt  to  conquer  that  (Icady, 
m^nly,  pertinacious  fpirit,  with  which  they  had  oppofed  the 
tyrants  of  thofe  day»,  in  church  and  lUte.  They  were  very  far 
from  bting  e  .emies  to  moiiatchy  ;  and  they  knew  as  well  as  any 
nfn,  the  juit  regard  and  honour  that  is  du;  to  the  chara^er  of  a 

difpenfec 


T^ 


)  N 

of  that  peoplif, 
(hail  even  ilie 
that  realoii.— 
piiwers  of  thofe 
1  their  freedom 
lurh  rciifon  to 
fide  the  ocean, 
r  refoi'.r,  fiom 
,    and  plagucii, 

cnt,  and  furm« 
riimcnt,  in  di- 
— The  leading 
ty  were  men  of 
(iriang,  orators, 
quite  familiar: 
in  b'ing,  con« 
3f  the  mod  en. 
'cvcr  in  langua* 
(  Enrobtan  Uni- 

fi  of  thefe  cnlo- 
y  many  modern 
of  thcff  pcifons 
fiich  ridicule  it 
d  is  grofly  injn- 
fiafm,  it  may  be 
j^aii'infrom  tlieic 
iverfal  charader, 
is  however  been 
piss  in  which  it 
far  from  being  a 
bcli&ve  it  will  be 
For  the  honour  or 
I  large  mixture  of 
may  hi  juflly 
my    mortals  have 
I  was  faiir.dcd  in 
was    founded  in 
ith  the  principlei 
F  antiquity.  — — 
was  their  difdain 
n  death  iifelf,    in 
juer    that   Itcady, 
hid    oppofed  the 
bey  were  very  far 
w  as  well  as  any 
the  chirafter  of  a 
difpenfei: 


AND     FEUDAL    LAW. 


49 


dlfpenfcr  of  the  myrtcries  of  the  )fofp."l  of  grace:  Out  they  (xv 
clearly,  th.ii  popul.ir  powers  mud  be  placed  as  a  Rutrd,  a  coMrouI, 
t  balance,  to  the  poweu  of  the  mimnh  and  the  priell  in  every 
government}  <ir  ellts  it  would  foon  bntome  t!ie  mm  of  fin,  ilis 
whore  of  Dibylon,  the  mydery  of  iniquity,  a  great  and  d.-teilable 
fyftem  of  fraud,  violence  and  ufurpafion.  Their  grea'ert  concern 
feems  to  have  been  to  eltablidi  «  pcvernment  of  the  cliuich  more 
confilleiit  with  the  Scriptures,  and  a  government  of  the  IKiie  more 
agreeable  to  the  dignity  of  hnman  natnre,  than  any  they  had  fecn 
in  Europe:  and  to  tranfmit  fuch  a  government  d 'wn  to  their 
pollcrity,  with  thcmcansof  fecuring  and  prefirving  it  fjr  ever. 
To  render  the  popular  power  in  their  new  government  xi  great  and 
wife  as  their  principles  of  theory,  i.  e.  as  hnman  nature  and  the 
clirinian  religion  require  it  (hould  be,  they  endcivoureJ  ti>  remove 
from  it  as  many  of  the  feudal  inequaliti«s  and  dependencies  as 
could  be  fparcd,  confidently  with  the  prcfervation  of  a  mild 
limited  monarchy.  And  in  this  ihey  difcovereJ  the  depth  of  their 
wifdom,  and  the  warmth  ofiii-ir  friendship  to  humm  nature.— 
But  the  fird  place  is  dnc  to  religion.  '  .They  faw  clearly,   ihar 

of  all  the  nonfenfe  and  delufion  which  had  tver  p  ifll-J  through  the 
mind  of  man,  none  hud  cv.-r  been  more  extravagant  than  the 
notions  of  abfolutions,  indelible  charafters,  uninterrupted  fi';- 
ccfiiont,  and  tlie  red  of  thofe  fintadical  idea^,  dcfivcd  from  the 
cannon  law,  which  had  thrown  fich  a  glare  of  mydery,  famflit, , 
reverence  and  right,  reverend  eminence,  jnd  holincfs  ar>und  the 
idea  of  a  pried,  as  no  mortal  could  deferre,  ard  as  always  mud, 
from  the  condiiuiion  of  human  nature,  be  dargcrous  in  fociety. 
For  tliis  reafon  they  demolilhed  the  whole  fyllem  of  Dlocef.tn 
epifcopacy,  and  deriding,  as  all  reafjuablc  and  impartial  men  mull 
do,  the  ridiculous  fancies  of  fanflified  cffl.iviafromepifcopHi  (inf^jrs, 
they  cflablidied  facerdoul  ordination  on  the  foundation  of  the  Bible 
and  common  fenfe.— This  condudt  at  once  imp:>ftfd  an  obligation 
on  the  whole  body  of  the  clergy,  to  indudry,  virtue,  piety  and 
learning;  and  rendered  that  whole  body  infinitely  more  independent 
on  the  civil  powers,  in  all  refpt-rts,  than  they  could  be  where  they 
were  formed  into  a  fcale  of  fubordination,  from  a  Pope  down  to  priedi 
and  friars  and  confefTors,  nccelfarily  and  ciremially,  a  fordid, 
(lupid,  and  wretched  herd  ;  or  than  they  could  bo  in  any  other 
country,  w.'icre  an  archbiOiop  held  the  place  of  an  univcrfal  bifliop, 
and  the  vicars  and  curates  that  of  the  ignorant,  dependent,  niife- 
rable  rabble    aforefaid  ;  and  infinit:Iy   more   fcnfible  and   learned 

than   they  could  be  in  either. This    fubjef:  has  been  fecn  in 

the  fame  light  by  many  illudrious  patriots,  who  have  liv;d  ia 
America,  fince  the  days  of  our  forefathers,  and  who  have  adored 
their  memory  for  the  fame  reafon,— >-And  mtthink*  there  has  not 
appeared  in  New  EngUnd,  a  ttronger  veneration  for  their  r  icmory, 
a  more  penetrating  infight  into  the  grounds  and  principles  and 
fpirit  of  their  palicy,  nor  a  more  earned  defire  of  perpetuating 
the  bleffingiof  it  to  poftciity,  than   that  line  inllitutioa  of  tlie  Ia;c 

G  Chief 


•      # 


*  . 


'  'iniii.iinnn>i 


mii.„n.Hiiiwi"i,i  'I 


i 


;  i 


so 


ON    THE    CANON" 


Chief  Jiifticfi  Dudley,  of  a  leOiire  againft  poocry,  and  on  tlie 
validity  of  prcfbyJcrian  ordination.  This  was  certainly  intended 
by  that  wife  and  excellent  man,  as  an  etfriial  memento  of  the 
wifdom  and  goodiiefs  of  the  very  principles  that  fettled  America. 
But  I  mull  again  return  to  the  feudal  law.— The  adventurers  fo 
often  mentioned,  had  an  utter  contempt  of  all  that  dulc  ribaldry 
of  hereditary  indefeafible  right, — the  Lord's  arointed,— and  the 
divine  miraculous  oiiginal  of  government,  with  which  thepriefthood 
had  iiivelopcd  the  feudal  monarch  in  clouds  and  myOeries,  and 
from  wlicrce  they  had  deduced  the  mod  mifchievoiis  of  all 
doclrinej,  that  of  paffive  obedience  and  non-refiftance.  They 
knew  that  government  was  a  plain,  fimple  intelligible  thiag, 
founded  in  nature  and  reafon,  and  quite  comprehenfible  by  com- 
mon fenfe. — They  detefttd  all  the  bafc  fei  vices,  and  fervile  depen- 
dencies of  the  feudal  fyftem  —  They  knew  that  no  fuch  unworthy 
dependencies  took  place  in  the  ancient  feats  of  liberty,  the  repub- 
lics of  Greece  and  Rome:  and  they  thought  all  fuch';  flavilh 
fubordir.acions  were  equally  inconfiflent  with  the  conlVitution  of 
human  nature,  and  that  religious  liberty  with  which  Jefus  had  made 
them  free.  This  was  certainly  the  opinion  they  had  formed,  and 
they  were  far  from  being  fingular  or  extravagant  in  thinking  fo.— 
Many  celebrated  modern  writers  in  Europe  have  efpoufed  the  fame 
fcntiments.  —Lord  Kaims.  a  Scoitilh  writer  of  great  reputation, 
whofe  authority  in  this  c»fe  ought  to  have  the  more  weight,  as  his 
countrymen  have  not  the  molt  worthy  ideas  of  liberty,  fpeaking  of 
the  feudal  law,  f«ys,  •'  A  conftitution  fo  contradiftory  to  all  the 
principles  which  govern  majikind,  caii  never  be  brought  about, 
one  fliould  imagine,  bat  by  foreign  conquell  or  native  ufurpations." 
Brit.  Ant.  p.  2.— Roufleau  fpeaking  of  the  fame  fyftem,  calls  it, 
«•  That  moll  iniquitous  and  abfurd  form  of  government,  by  which 
human  nature  was  fo  fliamefully  degraded."  Social  compact. 
Page  164..— It  would  be  eafy  to  multiply  authorities;  but  it  mull 
be  ncedlefj,  bccaufe  as  the  original  of  this  form  of  government  was 
among  favzges,  as  the  fpirit  of  it  is  military  and  defpotic,  every 
writer,  who  would  allo\v  the  people  to  l.avc  any  fight  to  life  or 
property  or  freedom,  more  than  the  beafis  of  the  field,  and  who 
was  not  hired  or  inlifled  under  arbitrary  lavvlefs  power,  has  been 
clways  willing  to  admit  the  feudal  fyftem  to  be  inconfiftent  with 
liberty  and  the  rights  of  mankind. 

To  have  holden  their  lards  allodially,  or  for  every  man  to  have 
been  the  fovereijvn  lord  and  proprietor  of  the  ground  he  occupied, 
would  have  conliiiuted  a  government,  too  nearly  like  a  common- 
weahh.— -They  were  contented,  therefore,  to  hold  their  lands  of 
their  King,  as  their  fovereign  lord,  and  to  him  they  were  willing  ta 
render  homage;  bit  to  no  mcfnc  and  fubordinate  lords,  nor  wera 
they  willing  to  fubmit  to  any  of  the  bafer  fer  vices. — In  all  this  they 
were  fo  fttenuous,  that  they  have  even  tranfroiited  to  their  poftcrity, 
8  very  ",eneral  contempt  and  deteftation  of  holdings  by  quit  rents: 
As  they  have  aifo  an  hereditary  aidoar  for  liberty,  and  thirft  for 
knowledge.!  They 


T" 


ii«iiiiiiiii 


wuumBu"  If  [in--- 


3  N" 

:ry,  and  on  tlie 
tainly  intended 
lemcnco  of  the 
ettled  America. 
e  adventurers  fo 
It  dirk  ribaldry 
inted,— and  the 
ch  the  priefthood 
inyfteries,  and 
chicvoiis  of  all 
fi  (lance.  They 
elligible  thing, 
enTible  by  com- 
d  fervile  dcpen- 
fuch  unworthy 
:rty,  the  repub- 
all  fuch';  flavifh 
:  conlVitution  of 
)  Jefus  had  made 
lad  formed,  and 
I  thinking  fo.— 
fpoufed  the  fame 
Treat  reputation, 
e  weight,  as  his 
rty,  fpeaking  of 
iflory  to  all  (he 
brought  about, 
ve  ufurpationi." 
fyllem,  calls  it, 
iment,  by  which 
Social  compacl* 
ties ;  but  it  mull 
government  was 
defpotic,  eveiy 
right  to  life  or 
e  field,  and  who 
power,  has  been 
inconfiilent  with 

ery  man  to  have 
jnd  he  occupied, 
•  like  a  common- 
d  their  lands  of 
r  were  willing  tci 
B  lords,  nor  were 
— In  all  this  they 
to  their  pofterity, 
gs  by  quit  rents: 
ty,  and  thirft  for 
They 


AND    FEUDAL     LAW. 


51 


They  were  convinced  by  iheif  knowledge  of  human  nature 
derived  fiom  hiftory  and  their  own  experience,  that  nothing  could 
preferve  their  pofterity  from  the  encroachments  of  the  iwo  fyllemi 
of  tyranny,  in  oppofition  to  which,  as  has  been  obfervid  already, 
they  crefled  their  government  in  church  and  (late,  but  kujwlcdgc 
difFufed  generally  through  the  whole  body  of  ihc  people. — Their 
civil  and  religious  principles,  therefore,  confpired  to  prompt  tjicni 
to  ufe  every  meafure,  and  tike  every  p'ccaution  in  their  power 
to  propigate  and  perpetuate  knowledge.  For  this  purpole  they 
laid  very  early  the  foundationsof  colleges,  and  iiivcllcd  them  with 
ample  privileges  and  emoluments  ;  and  it  is  remarkable,  that 
they  have  left  among  their  polleiiiy,  fo  univerfal  an  afFc'tlion  and 
veneration  for  thofe  feminaries,  and  for  liberal  education,  that 
the  mcanell  of  the  people  contribute  chearfully  to  [he  fupporc 
and  maintenance  of  them  every  year,  and  that  nothin;;  is  more 
generally  popular  than  produflions  for  the  honour,  repu'ation,  and 
advantage  of  thofe  feats  of  learning.  But  the  vvifdom  and  bene- 
volence of  our  fachers  refted  not  here.  They  made  an  early  pro- 
vifion  by  law,  that  every  town,  confiding  of  fo  many  (rimilies, 
ihould  be  always  furniflied  with  a  grammar  fchnol.— They  madts 
It  a  crime  lor  fudi  a  town  to  be  de'Utuce  of  a  grammar  fchoQl- 
mailer  for  a  few  months,  and  fubje£lcd  it  to  an  heavy  penalty.— 
So  that  the  education  of  all  ranks  of  people  was  made  the  care 
and  expence  of  the  public  in  a  manner,  that  I  believe  has  been  an> 
known  to  any  other  people  ancient  or  modern. 

The  confequences  of  thefe  ella'.j'.ilhaieuts  we  fee  and  feel  every 
day.»A  native  of  America  who  cannot  read  and  write,  is  as  rare  an 
appearance  as  a  Jacobite,  or  a  Roman  Cliatholic,  i.  e.  as  rare 
as  a  comet  or  an  earthquake.— Ic  has  been  obferved,  that  we  are 
all  of  us  lawyers,  divines,  politician;,  and  philofophers.— And  I 
have  good  authority  to  fay  that  all  candid  foreigi  ers  who  have 
pafled  through  this  country,  and  converfcd  freely  with  all  forts  of 
people  here,  will  allow,  thatt'iry  have  never  f-en  fo  much  know- 
ledge and  civility  among  the  common  people  in  any  part  of  the 
world.  It  is  trvit  there  has  been  among  lis  a  party  for  fome  year*, 
confining  chiefly,  not  of  the  dcfcendants  of  the  drft  fettlcrs  of  this 
country,  b'Jt  of  high  churchmen,  and  high  ftatefmcn,  imported 
iince,  whoaffedltij  cenfiirc  this  provifion  torthe  education  of  our 
youth  as  a  needlefs  expence,  and  an  impofition  upon  the  rich  in 
favour  of  the  poor  ;—  and  as  an  inltitution  produdivc  of  idlencfs 
and  vain  fpeculation  among  the  people,  whofe  time  and  attention, 
it  is  faid,  ought  to  be  devoted  to  hbour,  and  not  to  public  aiFairt, 
or  to  examination  into  ths  conduct  of  their  fuperiors.  And  cer- 
tain officers  of  the  crown,  and  certain  other  miflionaries  of  igno- 
fancc,  fi'ippery  ferviiity,  and  flavery,  have  been  moll  inclined  ta 
countsnancc  and  encreale  the  fame  party — B;  it  remembered, 
however,  that  liberty  muft  at  all  hazards  be  fupp  irted.  IVe  havt  a 
right  to  it,  derived  from  oarMAKSR  !  But  if  we  lud  n.  t,  our 
faUicrs  have  tamed  and  bought  it  for  i'8  at  th.'  cxpcics  of  their 

C.fj 


^Ms:z:3C. 


"HIP'  ii  ■ 


■■niiMiia(WiMmaMn»<«» 


I* 


ON    THE    CANON 


'#■ 


i^^i 


eafe  their  cftatcs,  their  plcafurc  and  their  blood.-— And  Libertyi 
cannot  be    picfcrved  jvithoiit  a  general   knowledge,   among   the 
penple,  who  hav^  a  right,  from  the  frame  of  their  nature,  to  know- 
)edj;e,  as  their  (jreat  Creator,   who  does   nothing  iiv  vain,  has 
given   them  uiiderllandings  a'^d    a  defire  to  know  ;    bat  befides 
this  they  have  a  light,   an  indifpiitable,  unalienable,  indefeafibit, 
divine  right,  to  that  moH  dreaded  and  envied  kind  of  knowledge, 
1  mean  of  the  chaiaders  and  condufl  of  their  rulers,  Rulirt  an  nt 
more  than  attornie$,  agent),  and  tru/teet  far  the  ptople  :     and  if   th© 
llie  caufe,  the  interelt,    and  trull  are  iofidinufly  betrayed,   or  wan- 
tonly trifled  away,  the  people  have  a  right  to  revoke  the  authority 
that   they  themfelves  have  deputed,  and  to  con(\ituie  abler  and 
better  agcn's  ai^ornies,  and  trullees.     And  the  prefervation  of  the 
means  of  knowledge,  among  the  lowed  rank,  is  of  more  import* 
ance  to  the  public,  than  all  the  property  of  all  the  rich  men  in  the 
country.     It  is  even  of  more  confcquence   to  the  rich  themfelvef, 
and   to    their    polietity.  —  The  only  queftion  is,    whether  it  is  a 
public  emohinient  i     and  if  it  is,   the    rich   ought    undoubtedly 
to  contribute  in  the  fame  proportion  as  to  all  other  public  burdens, 
i.   e.  in  proportion  to  their   wcalih,  which   is  fecured  by    public 
txpenccj.     But  none  of  the  means  of  information  are  more  facred, 
cr  have   been   cherilhed  with  more  tendernefs  and  care  by  the  fet- 
tlers  of  America,  than  the  profs.     Care  has    been  taken    that    the 
art  of  printing  (hould    be  encouraged,  and  that  it  fliould  be  eafy 
and  cheap,  and  fdfc  for  any  peifon  to  communicate  his  thoughts  to 
tlie  Public.— And  you,   Meifieurs  Printers  whatever  the  tyrants  of 
the  earth   may  fay  of  your  Paper,  have  done  important  fervice  to 
your  country,  by  your  readinefs  and  freedom   in   pnblilhiiig  the 
fpcculations  of  ih-i  curious.     The  ftale,  impudent  infinuations  of 
flander    and   ledition,   with   which  the  gormandizers    of    power 
havf;   endeavoured  to  difcredit  your  Paper,   are   fo  much  the  more 
to  your  honour;    for  the  jaws  of  power  are  always  opened  to  de- 
vour, and  her  arm   is  always  firetched  out,  if  pofitble  to  deftroy, 
the  ficedom   of  thinking,   fpeiking,    and    writting.— And  if  the 
public  interelt,    liberty  and  happinefs  have   been  in  danger,  from 
the  ambition  or  avarice  of  any  great  man,  or  number  of  great  men 
whatever  may  be  their  polite nefs,  addrefs,  learning,  ingenuity,  and 
in  other  refpeCls  integrity  and  humanity,    you  have  done  yourfelvei 
honour  and  your  country   fervice,   by  publifliing  and  pointing  out 
that  avarice  and   ambition.— Thefe  views   are   fo    much  the  more 
daiii>erous  and  pern iciouj,  for  the  virtutes  with  which  they  may  be 
accpropnnied  in  the   fime   char^ftcr,  and  with  fo  much  the  more 
wctcliful  jealoufy  to  be  guarded  againft. 

"  Curfeon  fucli  virtues,  they've  undone  their  country." 

Be  not  iniimiJaied,  therefore,  by  any  terrori,from  publijhing'with 

the   utmoji  freedom   lubatever  can  be  •uiarrented  by  the  lavui  of  your 

(ouniry  ;  nor  fuffer  ycurjehes   to  be  i^heedled  out  of  your  liberty  by 

aityprettnu  cffolitenefi,  delicacy,  cr  decency.     Thefe,  as  they  are 

often 


igp;pmrnp»HHiir  n«»g.tii-  imi  ii»H|p|pij!P»-- 


>  N 

—And  Liberty 
re,  among  the 
atiire,  to  koow- 
g  iiv  vain,  has 

;  bat  befides 
e,  indefeafibit, 

of  knowledge, 
St  Rulers  art  no 
t :  and  if  the 
ayed,  or  wan- 
ce  the  authority 
ituie  abler  and 
fervation  of  the 
)f  more  import* 
rich  men  in  the 
rich  themfelve«, 

whether  it  is  a 
t  undoubtedly 
public  burdens, 
■red  by  public 
ire  more  facred, 
care  by  the  fet- 
taken  that  the 
:  fliould  be  eafy 
:  his  thoughts  to 
;r  the  tyrants  of 
ortant  fervice  to 

publiOiiiig  the 

infinuations  of 
zers  of  power 
I  much  the  more 
^s  opened  to  de- 
fible  to  deftrojr, 
ig.— And  if  the 

in  danger,  from 
ber  of  great  men 
;,  ingenuity,  and 
i  inae  yourfelves 
ind  pointing  out 

much  the  more 
lich  they  may  be 
I  much  the  more 

r  country." 
n  publijhing  nuitb 
I  the  laxvi  of  your 
of  your  liberty  by 
n«re,  as  they  are 
often 


m^ 


AND    FEUDAL    LAW. 


53 


often  ufed  ufcd,  are  but  three  different  names  for  hypocrify, 
chicanery,  and  cowardice.  Much  lefs  I  prefume,  will  you  be 
difcouraged  by  any  pietences,  tliat  malignants  on  this  fide  the 
water  [  Bojlon  in  America.  ]  will  reprcfcnt  your  Paper  as  faclions 
and  Seditious,  or  that  the  Great  on  the  other  fide  the  water  will 
lake  ofi'ence  at  rhem.  Tliiii  dread  of  rcprefeiitation  has  had 
for  a  long  time  in  this  province  eff'ecls  very  (imilarto  what  the 
phyficiaiu  call  an  hydrophobia,  or  dread  of  water.  —  It  has 
made  uj  delirious  —  and  we  have  ruflied  headlong  into  the  water, 
till  we  are  almoll  drowned,  outoffimple  or  phrenfical  fear  of  it. 
Believe  roe  the  character  of  this  country  has  fu(FercJ  more  in  Bri- 
tain, by  the  pufillanimity  with  which  we  have  borne  many  infults 
and  indignities  from  the  creatures  of  power  at  home,  and  the  crea- 
tures of  thofe  creatures  here,  than  it  ever  did,  or  ever  will  by  the 
freedom  and  fpirit  that  has  been  or  will  b:  difcovered  in  writing 
or  aflion.  Believe  me,  my  countrymen,  they  have  imbibed  an 
opinion  on  the  other  fide  the  water,  that  we  are  an  ignorant,  a 
timid,  and  a  (lupid  people  ;  nay.  their  tools  on  t^is  fide  have 
often  the  impudence  to  difpute  your  bravery.  —  But  I  hopa  in 
God  the  time  is  nearat  hand,  when  they  will  be  fully  convinced  of 
your  underftanding,  integrity  and  courage.  But  can  any  thing  be 
more  ridiculou;;  were  it  nut  too  provoking  to  be  laughed  at,  than 
to  pretend  th^t  offence  fliould  be  taken  at  home  for  writings  here  ? 
--  Pray  let  them  look  at  home.  Is  not  the  human  underftand- 
ing exhaulled  there?  Are  not  reafcn,  imaginations,  wit,  paffion 
fenfes,  and  all,  tortured  to  find  out  fatire  and  inveflive  againft  iho 
charafters  of  the  vile  and  futile  fellows  who  fometimes  get  into 
place  and  power  ?  —  Tlie  mod  exceptionable  paper  that  ever  X 
(aw  here  is  pet I'efl  prudence  and  modelty,  in  comparifon  of  muU 
titudes  of  their  applauded  writings.  Yet  the  high  regard  they 
have  for  the  freecdom  of  the  Prefs,  indulges  all, — I  mull  and  will 
repeat  it,  Ncwfpapers  dcfervc  the  patronage  of  every  friend  to  his 
country.  And  whether  the  dtfamers  of  them  are  arrayed  in  robes  of 
^  fcsrlet  or  fable,  whether  they  lurk  and  flculk  in  an  infurancce,  office, 
whether  they  affume  the  venerable  charader  of  a  priell,  the  fly  one 
0/  a  fcriviner,  or  the  dirty,  infamous,  abandoned  one  of  an  inform- 
er, they  are  all  the  creauires  and  tools  of  the  lull  of  domination.— « 
The  true  fourceof  our  fufferings,  has  been  our  timidity. 
We  have  been  afraid  to  think.  — —  We  have  felt  a  reluctance 
to  examining  in(o  the  grounds  of  our  priviledges,  and  the  extent 
in  which  we  have  an  indilouiable  right  to  demand  them,  againll 
all  the  power  and  authority  on  earth.  —  And  many  who  have  not 
fcrupled  'o  examine  for  themfelvcs,  have  yet,  for  certain  pru- 
dent reafoiis,  been  cautious  and  dillideut  of  declaring  the  refult 
of  their  enquires. 

The  ciufc  of  this  timidity  is  perhaps  hcriditary,  and  to  be 
traced  back  in  hiftory,  as  far  as  the  cruel  treatment  the  firft  fet- 
t'ers  of  this  country  received,  b-.fore  their  embarkation  for  Ame- 
ficsi  from  thegoveiiimeat  at  hoin«!r~ Every  b';dy  knuvvi  bow  dan^ 

geroui 


i~\.. 


KPMMM* 


I    r 


ON    THE    CANON 

serous  it  was,  to  fpeak  or  write  in  favour  of  any  thing,  ia  ilipfs 
days,  but  the  triumphant  fyflem  of  religion  and  politics.  And 
our  fathers  were  particularly,  the  objeft  of  the  peffecutions  and 
profcriptions  of  the  times.  —  It  is  not  unlikely  therefore,  that, 
although  they  were  inflexibly  fteady  in  refufing  their  pofitive  aflrnt 
to  any  thing  againft  their  principles,  they  might  have  contrafted 
iabits  of  referve,  and  a  cautious  diffidence  of  afferting  their  opini- 
ons publicly.  —  Thcfe  habits  they  probably  brought  with  them 
to  America,  and  have  traufmitted  down  to  us.  —Or,  we  may  pof- 
fibly  account  for  this  appearance,  by  the  great  affeftion  and  vene- 
ration, Americans  have  always  entertained  for  the  country  from 
whence  they  fprang  —  or  by  the  quiet  temper  for  which  they  have 
been  lemarkable,  no  country  having beeo  Icfs  difpofed  todifcoiiieat 
than  this  «-oi  by  a  fenfe  they  have  that  it  is  their  duty  to  acquiefce 
under  the  adminiflration  of  government,  even  when  in  many  fmal- 
ler  matters  grievous  to  them,  and  until  the  effentiils  of  the  great 
compaft  atedeftroyed  or  invaded.  Thefe  peculiar  caufes  might 
operate  opon  them  ;  but  without  thcfe,  we  all  know,  that  hutaan 
nature  itfelf,  from  indolence,  modctty,  humanity  or  fear,^  has 
always  too  much  reluftance  to  a  manly  aflertion  of  its  rights. 
Kence  perhaps  it  has  happened,  that  nine-tenths  of  the  fpecies, 
are  groaning  and  gafping  in  mifery  and  fervitude. 

But  whatever  the  cauie  has  been,  the  fart  is  certain,  we  have 
been  cxccffivcly  cantious  of  giving  ofrcnce  by  complaining  of 
grievances.— -And  it  is  as  certain,  that  American  governors,  and 
their  friends,  and  all  tlic  crown  officers,  have  availed  thcmfelves 
of  tliis  difpofition  in  the  people.— They  have  prevailed  on  us  to 
confent  to  many  things,  which  were  grofsly  injurious  to  us,  and 
to  furrender  many  others  with  voluntary  tamenefs,  to  which  we 
had  the  cleareft  right.  Have  we  not  been  treated  formerly,  with 
abominable  infolence,  by  officers  of  the  navy  l-^——l  me-^"  »<• 
infinuation  agaiod  any  gentleman  now  on  this  flation,  hav- 
ing heard  no  complaint  of  any  one  of  them  to  his  dilhonour.— 
Have  not  fome generals,  from  England  treated  us  like  fervants,  nay, 
more  like  flavea  than  like  Britons?— Have  we  not  been  under  the 
moft  ignominious  contribution,  the  moft  abjeft  fubmiffion,  the  moil 
fnpercilious  infults of  foroe  cullom-houfe  officers:  Have  we  not 
been  triffled  with,  browbeaten,  and  tramp'-j  on,  by  former 
governors,  in  a  manner  which  no  King  of  England  fioce  James 
the  Second  has  dared  to  indulge  towards  his  fubjeOs  ;  Have  we 
uotraifed  up  one  family,  placed  in  them  an  unlimited  confidence, 
and  been  foothed,  and  flattered,  and  intimidated  by  their  influence, 
into  a  great  part  of  this  infamous  tamenefs  and  fubmiffion?—-— 
••  Thcfe  are  ferious  and  alarming  qusllions,  and  defervc  a  dif- 
paffionate  confideratioii."— 

This  difpofition  hes  been  the  great  wheel  and  the  main  fpring  in 
the  American  machine  of  court  poliiics.—  We  have  been  told, 
that  "  the  word  Rtgh/s  is  an  cficnfivc  expreffion."  That 
••  the  K'lig,  his  minillrv,  and  Parliament,  will  not  endure  to 

hear 


h 


r~"'" 


0  N 

thing,  ia  ihpre 
politics.  And 
erfecutions  and 
therefore,  that, 
ir  pofiiive  alTent 
have  contracted 
ing  their  opiiii- 
ight  with  them 
)r,  we  may  pof- 
sftioii  and  vene- 
le  country  from 
which  they  have 
fed  todifconient 
uty  to  acquiefce 
1  in  many  fmal- 
als  of  the  great 
ar  caufes  might 
«v,  that  hura&n 
y  or  fear,  has 
1  of  its  rights, 
of  the  rpecies, 

irtain,  we  have 
:nmplaining  of 
I  goveroort,  and 
tiled  themfelves 
evailed  on  us  to 
ious  to  lis,  and 
s,  to  which  we 
[  formerly,  with 
— i^I  mean  no 
lis  flation,  hav- 
is  dilhonour.— 
Ice  fervants,  nay, 
been  under  the 
niflioii,  the  moll 
;  Have  we  not 
on,  by  former 
ind  fioce  James 
]t&s  i  Have  we 
ited  confidence, 
,■  their  influence, 
ubmiffion  ?—— 
i   defervc  a  dif- 

le  main  fpring  in 

;  have  been  told, 

reffion."      That 

not  endure  to 

hear 


IP 


AND    FEUDAL    LAW. 


SS 


fccar  Americans  talk  of  their  Rigbtr."  That  "  Britain  is  the  mo-« 
'  ther  and  we  the  children,  that  a  filial  duty  and  fubmiflion  is  due 
from  us  to  her,"  and  that ««  we  ought  to  doubt  our  own  judgment, 
and  prcfame  that  fhe  is  right,  even  when  (he  Teems  to  us  to  fhake 
the  foundations  of  government."  That  ••  Britain  is  immenfelf 
>ich,  and  great,  and  powerful,  has  fleets  and  armies  at  her  com- 
mand, which  have  been  the  dread  and  terror  of  the  univerfe,  and 
that  fhe  will  force  her  own  judgment  into  execution,  right  or 
wrong."  But  let  me  intreat  you.  Sir,  to  pstufe— Do  you  confidcc 
yoorfelf  as  a  mifiionary  of  loyalty  or  of  rebellion  ?  Arc  you  not  re- 
prefenting  your  King,  his  Minillry  nnd  Parliament,  as  tyrants, 
imperious,  unrelenting  tyrants,  by  fuch  reafoning  as  this?-. Is  not 
this  reprefenting  your  moll  gracious  Sovereign,  as  endeavouring  to 
deftroy  the  foundations  of  hit  own  throne  ?~  Arc  you  not  reprefent- 
ing every  member  of  Parliament  as  renouncing  the  tranfa^ions  ac 
Ruuyti  MtaJ  i  [  the  meadow,  near  Windfor,  white  Magna  Charta 
was  (igned,  j  and  as  repealing  in  efFefl  the  bill  of  rights,  when  the 
Lords  and  Commons  afTerted  and  vindicated  the  rights  of  tho 
people  and  their  own  rights,  and  inliiled  on  the  King's  afTent  t(» 
that  afTertion  and  vindication  ?  Do  you  not  reprefent  them,  a* 
forgetting  that  the  Prince  of  Orange  was  created  King  William  by 
the  People,  on  purpofc  that  their  rights  might  be  eternal  and 
inviolable  ?— Is  there  not  fomething  extremely  fallacious,  in  the 
common  place  images  of  mother  country  and  children  colonies  f 
Are  we  the  children  of  Great  Britain,  anymore  than  the  cities  of 
London,  Exeter  and  Bath  ?  Arc  we  not  brethcrn  and  fellow-rub- 
jeds,  with  thofe  in  Britain,  only  under  a  fomewhat  different  me- 
thod of  legiflation,  and  a  totally  different  method  of  taxation  f 
But  admitting  we  are  children,  have  not  children  a  right  to  com- 
plain when  their  parents  are  attempting  to  break  their  limbs,  ta 
adminiRer  poifon,  or  to  fell  them  to  enemies  for  flaves?  Let  me 
intreyt  you  to  confider,  will  the  mother  be  pleafed,  when  you  re- 
prefent her  as  deaf  to  the  cries  of  her  children  ?  When  you  compare 
her  to  the  infamous  mifcreant,  who  lately  (loud  on  the  gallows 
for  (larving  her  children  ?  When  you  refemble  her  to  Lady  Macbetit 
.n  Shakefpear,  (  (  cannot  think  of  it  wiihout  horror) 

Who  '*  had  given  fuck,  and  knew 
**  How  tender  'twas  to  love  the  babe  that  milk'd  her.'.* 

But  yet,  who  could 
**  Even  while  'twas  fmiling  in  her  face, 
*'  Have  pluck'd  her  nipple  from  the  bonelefs  gums, 
"  And  dafh'd  the  brains  out." 

Let  us  banifh  for  ever  from  our  minds,  my  countrymen,  all' 
fuch  unworthy  ideas  of  the  King,  his  MiniRry,  and  Parliament. 
Let  us  not  fuppofe,  that  all  are  become  luxurious,  effeminate  and 
unreafonable,  on  the  other  fide  the  water,  as  many  defigniog  per- 
foDS  would  infinuate.  Let  us  prefume,  what  is  in  facl  true,  that 
the  fpirit  of  liborty  ii  as  ardent  at  cvec  tmong  the  body  of  tho-na- 

uoa,. 


♦        » 


»} 


S6 


ON    THE    CANON       # 


lifl 


tion,  though  a  few  individual*  may  be  corrupted.— Let  us  take 
it  for  granted,  Hmt  the  fame  grcrt  fpirit,  which  once  gave  Cafac 
fo  warm  a  reception ;  which  denounced  hoftilities  againft  John, 
'till  Magna  Cbarta  wn  figncd  ;  which  feveicd  the  head  of  Chailes 
the  Firrt'from  his  body,  and  drnva  James  the  Second  from  his 
kingdom;  the   fame  grcot  fpirit    (  mav   heaven   preserve   it 

TILL    THE    EARTH    SHALL    BE     NO    MORE.')     which      fifft     feated 

the  great  grandfather  of  his  prefent  mod  gracious  Majefty  on  the 
throne  of  Britain,  is  dill  alive  and  aaive,  and  warm  in  England  j 
and  that  the  fame  fpirit  in  An^erica,  inftead  of  provoking  the  in- 
habitants  of  that  country,  will  endear  us  to  them  for  ever,  and  fc- 
cure  their  good-will. 

This  fpirit,  however,  without  knowledge,  would  be  little  better 
than  a  brutal  rage.— Let  us  tenderly  and  kindly  cheriJh  therefore 
the  means  of  knowledge.   Let  os  dare   to  read,  think,  fpeak   and 
write.  —Let  every    order  and  degree  among  the  people  roufe  their 
attention  and  animate  their  refolution.—  Let  them  all  become  at- 
tentive to  the  grounds  and  principles  of  government,  ecclefiaftical 
and  civil.  —Let  us  ftudy  the  law  of  nature  :  fcarch  into  tlie  fpint 
of  the  Britilh  conllitution  ;    read  the  hiftories  of  ancient  ages ; 
coctemplate  the  great  examples  of  Greece  and   Rome  :  fet    be- 
fore us  the  condutlof  our  own  Britith  anceftors,  who  have  defend- 
ed, for  ui,  the  inherent  rights  of  mankind  againft    foreign   and 
domeftic  tyrants  and  ofurpers,  againft    arbitrary  kings   and  cruii 
priefts,  in  ftiort  againft  the  gates  of  earth  and  hell.— Let  us  read 
and  rccoUeft,  and   imprsfs  upon  our  fouls   the  views  and  ends  cf 
our    own    more    immediate    forefathers,    in    exchanging    their 
native  country  for  a  dreary,  inhofpitable  wildernefs.     Let  us  exa- 
mine into    the  nature  of  that  power,  and  the  cruelty  of  that  ojj* 
prcilion  which  drove    them   from  their  homes.      Pecolleft  their 
amazing    fortitude,    their    bitter    fuffcrings  !    The   hunger,    the 
uakednels,  the  celd,  which  they  patiently   endured  !     The  fevere 
labours  of  clearing   their   grounds,  building  their  lionfes,  raifing 
their  provifions,  amidrt  dargers  from  wild  bealls  and  favage  men, 
before  they  had  time  or  money,  or  materials  for   commerce!     Re- 
coHeCl  the  civil  and  religious  principles,   and  hopes,    and  expefta- 
tions,  which  conftantly    fupporied  and    carried   them  through  al! 
hardfliips,  with  patience  and  refignation  !  Let  us  recoUecT:  it  was 
liberty  I  The  hope  of  liberty  £oi  themftlves  and  us  and  ours,  which 
conquered  all  difcouragemcnts,  dangers  and    trials!— In   fuch  re- 
fcaiches,  as  thefe,  let  us  all  in  oar  feveral   departments  chcarfulljr 
engage  !  But  efpecially  the  proper  patrons  and  fupporters  of  law, 
learning  and  religion.  ^  ,    ,     •  c 

Let  the  pulpit  lefound    with   the  doftrines  and   fentiments    ot 

religious  liberty. Let  us   hear  the   danger  of  thraldom  to  our 

confciences,  from  ignorance,  extreme  poverty  and  depiodance,  in 
ftort  from  civil  and  political  flivery.  —  Lst  us  fee  delineated 
before  us  the  true  map  of  man.  Let  cs  heat  the  dignity  of  his 
nature,  aud  the  noble  rank  he  hold*  among  the  WPrks  of  God  ! 

that 


)  N 

i— Let  us  take 
:c  gave  Cafac 
againO  John, 
ead  of  Chatles 
cond   from  his 

PRESERVE    IT 

;h  firft  feated 
Majefty  on  the 
m  ii)  England  { 
>voking  the  in- 
trever,  and  fc- 

be  little  better 
lerifti  therefore 
nk,  fpcak  and 
)ple  roufe  their 

all  become  at- 
if,  ecclefiallical 

into  tlie  fpirit 

ancient  ages ; 
.ome  :  fet  bs- 
ho  have  defcnd- 
ift  foreign  and 
icingi  and  crud 
[1.— Let  us  read 
rws  and  ends  cf 
:hanging  their 
fs.  Let  U9  exa- 
clty  of  that  ojj* 

Secollcft  their 
ie  hunger,  the 
:d  !  The  fevere 
r  Iioafes,  raifing 
ind  favage  men, 
:oininerce!  Re- 
s,  and  expefta* 
;hein  tbrongb  al! 

recoiled:  ic  was 
and  ours,  which 
It !— In  fuch  re- 
nents  chearfulljr 
pporters  of  law, 

i  fentiments  of 
thraldom  to  our 
I  dep;ndance,  in 
s  fee  delineated 
le  dignity  of  hit 
works  of  God  ! 
that 


AND     FEUDAL    LAW. 


S7 


that  confenting  to  flavcry  is  a  fdcrilegtoas  breach  of  truft  as  of- 
fenfivc  in  the  fight  ..f  God  as  it  is  derogatory  fnm  o^,r  own  ho- 
nour,  or  intercll  or  happinef,  j  and  that  G-d  Alm.chty  has 
promulgated  from  heaven,  liberty,  peace  and  pood-wiil  to  man  I  - 
Let  the  Bat  proclaim  •., be  lawi,  the  right,,  the  generous 
plan  of  power"  dehvered  down  from  remote  antiquity  f  info.rt 
the  world  of  the  m.ghty  flruqgjcj,  and  nomberlefs  (acri/icc.,  made 

by  our  anceftors,  in  the  defence  of  freedom Let  it  be  known, 

that  Biitilh  hbeities  are  not  the  grants  of  princes  or  parliaments' 
but  original  rights,  conditions  of  original  contrart..  coequal 
with  prerogative,  and  co.eval  with  government. —That  many  of 

^»'M^i'!i  "'  '"?•'"•"'  '"*^  '^^"•'»^  '^'''^  °"  ^s  "'^xi""  and 
eftablifticd   as  Dreliminar:es,  even    before  a  parliament  exilled.- 

Let  tSrm  f  for  the  foundation  of  Britilh  laws  and  government 

int  amt.,  -nan  nature,  in  the  cop  ...i.,  .  of  the  intelleilual 
anQu...aIwor...  -There  let  us  fee  thai  ..uth.  libfriy,  juftice. 
and  benevolence,  are  its  everlafting  bafis ;  and  if  thefc  could  bi 
reinoved,  the  fuperllruaure  is  overthrown  of  courfe. 

Let  the  colleges  join  their  harmony,  in  the  fame  delightful 
concert.-. Let  every  decIa,mation  turn  upon  the  beauty  of /Lrtv 
and  virtue,  and  the  deformity,  turpitude  and  malignity  of  flav  rj 
add  v,ce.-Let  the  public  difpuiatious  become  rcfearches  i,  to  ,h* 
grounds,  nature,  and  ends  of  government,  and  the  means  of 
preferving  the  good  and  demoliftiing  the  eviI._Let  the  dialogues 
and  all  the  exercifcs  become  the  inllrume^c,  of  impreffing  „„^,hc 
coder  mind,  and  of  fpreading  and  dillrib.uing,  far  and  wide  the 
ideas  of  right  and  the  fenfatious  of  freedom.  ' 

In  a  word,  let  .very  fluice  of  knowledge  be  opened  and  ftt  a 
flowing.  The  encroachments  upon  libert;.  i„  .he  rl,  of  t  ,e 
firft  James  and  the  firft  Charle,,  by  turning  the  general  aftcnilon  «f 
learned  men  to  sovernment.  are  faid  to  have  prfdoc  d  fhe  Z  eft 
number  of  confunimate   fta.efmen,  which   ha,  ever  been   feeTi! 

Milton's.  Nedham's.  Harnng ton's.  Neville's.  Sydney'..  L„cke' 
are  all  faid  to  have  owed  their  eminence  in  political  kno^ledgf 'o 
the  tyrannies  of  thofereigns.    The  profpecl.  now  before  os,fnA° 

Sr-  of  ?.?  • '"  ""  ^"^'  """""  '°  ""S'S"  'he  at.er.tion  of  every 
man  of  learning  to  matters  of  power  and  of  right,  that  we  maT 
be  neither  led  nor  driven  blindfolded  to  irrctriefab  e  de  IruS 
Nctbing  U/stban  thufum,  ,o  have  been  meditated  for  «..  ij  fZlTdl 
,r,,b,r  .nGreat.Britain.  The.e  feem,  to  be  a  direft  and  formal  dt 

Of  degrees— —The  firft  ilsp  that  ;s  intended  feemi  to  be  an  en. 
tire  fubverfion  of  the  whole  fyflem  of  our  Father,,  by  tLe  intr^duc 

Ta  f ;''«""°'!  «"*^  '^''"^''  ^**'  ""o  America. -Thee  nonaud 

dew5'"'T?u"'°';.2''  8'""y  "•"tilated  in  England,    are  „otm 

de-ftroyed.     Like    the   temples  ani  palaces,   in   which  the    o.ca 

contrivers  of  them  were  once  worft.ipped  an^  inhabited,  theyS 

--— Ihe  defigns  and  labouis  of  a  cmain  fociety  to  int.oduce  the 
former  of  them  into  America,  have  been  well  cx^ofcd  to  Se  -ub! 

"  lie, 


.  # 


'* 


w^ 


m 


58 


CHARACTER    OF 


lie   byawiiterof  jrrcat  lb". lilies ;  and  lUe  fufilisr  «tiempl8  to  the 
fame  pupoic  ihti  may  be  ma  Ic  by  that  focicty,  or  by  the  mu.iftry 
rr  DHiliamcnt,  I   leave   lo  the  c  .nje-turcs  of  thi  thouglitfal.— — . 
Bill  i.  r.iTn*  very  m^nlfcll  from  the  S  amp  Aft  itfelf,   that  a  defigo 
it  foiu.cd  to  I'rip  Ui  in  a  great  mcifurc  of  the  means  of  knowlcJ;;e, 
by  1  -ndiiig  ihc  I'refs,  the  Coll.ge  ,  and  even  an  Almanack  and  a 
New  -Paper,  with  rettnints  and  duiics  ;    mid  to  introduce  the  111- 
equ-'ities   and      r'c  pendencies   of  tl,c   feudal   fyftem,    by  taking 
from  the  pooicr  f-.rt  (..'p.-tple  all  their  lif.le  fubfillcncc,  and  CDn- 
ierriiig  it  on  a  fc-t  of  (lamp  cffi.:crs,  dilliibutorj  and  thci;  dcputiei. 
But  1  mull  proceed  1.0  farther  at  ptcffn'.— The  f<.-<|ael,  whenev.rl 
fhallfi:id  hc>i!ih  ar.d  IciCurc  topirfue  it  willbe  a  '•  difquifitton  of  the 
policy  of  the  ftamp  oa."^ln  the  mean  time  liowcver,  let  me  add, 
thefe  are  not  the  vapours  o»  a  melancholy  mind,  nor  the  effufions 
of  envy,  difappoimcd  ambition,    nor  of  a   (pirit   of  oppofition    W 
government  :    but   the    emanations  of    an  heart  that  burns  for  ita 
country's  welfire.     No  one  of  any  feeling,  born  and  educated  in 
this  once  happy  count; y.  Can  confidcr  the  numerous  dillrefles,  the 
grofs  ii.dignitics,  the  barbarous  ignorance,   the  haughty  ufurpati. 
nns,  that  we  have  rcafon  to  fear   arc    meditating    for   ourlelves, 
our  -childrpn,  o-.ir  neighbours,     in    fltort    for    all    our    country- 
men, tnd  all  their  pollerity,  without  the  uimoll  agonies  of  heart, 

Bnd  many  tears. 

THE         END. 


r        H        E 
POLITICAL         CHARACTER 

O  F 

JOHN         ADAMS,        E/q. 

By         an        AMERICAN. 


AS   the  States  General  of  the  United  Provinces  have  acknow- 
ledged  the   independency   of  the  United  St»tcs_  of  North 
America,  and  made  a  treaty  of  commerce  with  them,  "  ""X  <«>' 
be  improper  to  annex  a  ttiort  account  of  John  Adams,  Efq;  who, 
puifoing  the  intereftof  his  country,  hath  broeght  about  thefe  im- 
portant evcn:8.  ,    ^    ,  /i   r     -i-         u-  l 
Mr.    Ad«ms  is  dcRended   from  one  of  the  firft   families  which 
founded  the  colony  of  Mafiachufetj  Bay  in  i6}0.  He  applied  him- 
felf  t^dy  to  the  i\udy  of  the  laws  of  his  country  ;  and  no  fooner  en- 
tered upon  the  praftice  thereof,  but  he  drew  the  attention,    admi- 
ration    and  efteem  of  his  countrymen,  on  account  of  his  eminenc 
abilities  tnd  probity  of  character.     Not  fatisfied  with  barely  main, 
taining  the  rights  of  individuals,  lie  foon  fignalized  himfelf  in  de- 
fence of  his  country,  and  Mankind  at  large,  by  writing  his  admi- 
rable Difl'ertation  on  {he  Canon  and  feudal  laws  j  a  work  fo  well 
worth  the  attention  of  eviry  roan  who  is  an  enemy  to  ecclefiaflical 
and  civil-tyranny,  that  it  is  here  fubjoiued.  1:  ftowed  the  author  at 


•wa^ 


empts  to  the 
the  miiiiltry 
iglitful.— — . 
that  a  dengo 
■  knowloJ}i;e, 
lanack  and  a 
duce  the  iii- 
,    by  taking 
cc,  and  C3n« 
hci:  deputiei. 
1,  whcncv:r  I 
uifitloii  of  the 
,  let  me  add, 
r  the  effufions 
oppofilion    to 
t  burns  for  its 
I  educated  in 
dillrefTes,  the 
;hty  ufurpati> 
for  ourlielves, 
our    country- 
suiei  of  heart, 


T  E  R 


S,         Efq. 


A    N. 


;  have  acknovv- 
itatet  of  North 
;in,  ic  may  not 
ms,  Efq;  who, 
about  thcr;  iui-* 

families  whirh 
c  applied  hioi' 
id  no  fooner  en- 
ttention,  admi- 
t  of  his  eminenc 
ith  barely  main* 
d  himfelf  in  de< 
irriting  his  admi- 

a  work  fo  well 

f  to  ecclefiaflical 

^ed  the  author  at 

an 


. 


^ 


JOHN    ADAIVIS. 


rn 


an  ear'y  period  capable  of  fccondiM(»  rfBcnrinnnv   the   formaiio  . 
of  republics,  on  il,e  principles  of  ji,(hte  and   vi.tuc.     Such  a  maa 
became  molt  naturally  an  objta  ni  G  vernor   Barnard',*  Adiidion. 
The  peivcinoii  of  hi:,  nbilitirs  inij;i  t  be  of  ofe  in  a  haJ  ciulV  ;  tho 
ccrruption   of    his   principles   mi^k   tarnifli    tic   bell.      But   the 
attj  of  the  Oovcrnor,  whidi  h.id  fiKcceded  witS  f)  many,  were  inef. 
feftual  with  Mr.  Alams  wl,o  opet,Iy  dvclareJ  he  wc.uld  net  ac- 
cept a  f.vour,  however    flaiicii..i.|y   fiffcicd,  wliich  might  in  ary 
manner  conncfl   Mm  vvi'h  il,e  «iun.yi)(thc  ritjiits  cf  hij  country, 
rr   tend    to  embarrafs  Jiim,  an   it  had    liappcn'cJ    with    tot)   ,.  any 
other?,  in  the  dikha.Rc  of  his  duty  to  ih-   public.      S.dnciion  tb.,3 
tailing  (  f   Its  endi,  Calumny,  mfnatcs,  and    tl,j    I  t-ijht  "f  po-.vcr 
were  male  ufo  of  agjnil   him.     Tuey  l„a  ths  eilVcl  propofed,  but 
had^^a;  which  th.  ft»  -w  of  bafentf.  an^!  vi:)!cr.cv  ever  proJii-c  ci, 
a  mind  triily  virtuoiu.    Tl  oy  inCfcafeJ  Lis  liot.ell  llimncfs  b.caalj 
tl.cy  manifelkd,  that   t!ie  times   required  mor;  than  oiJina  y  exci- 
tio.s  ol   inanlinfffs.     It  cjrfeqnence  (,f  :!iis  coiidurt,  Mi.   Adams 
obtained    the    hij.hcfl   how^iu   vvl,ich  a  virtuous  man   can   rcceiva 
.10171  the  giod  and  the  b;d.     He    w.u  h.jnnured   with  the   rlifaa, 
piooation   of  tl-,c  Governor,  who   reAifcd    his  adtuifiim   ir.t-,   the 
council   ofthc  punince:   and    he   met    with  the   atpliufe  -of  hij 
countrymen  in   penfral,  whofe.^tlim   toafll'l.at   tht  L'on.;rsfj  in 
1774,  III    which  he  wac  molt    aaive.'b.'i'i?  one  of  the  ori'nrioal 
piomoiers  of  the  fjmons   ref«lu:inn  of  the   4th  of  July,  wlu-o  the 
colrr.i-sdeclaie.I  thv..mfe!vt!i  FREE   and  indej-e  n  dkn  r   statbs. 
_    Thullep  being  taken,  Mr.   Adams  f:jw   the  ineflicjcy  r,{  ,„cct. 
ing  tnc  EiigliQi  Coni.Tiiaionci.s  anil  vottd    niMind  th?  p;oT,),'hinn  ; 
Congrd;,    howi:ver,    having  determined  to'Vu.f^'e   this    mcafur. . 
lent  him,    together    win    Dr.    Franklin  md    Mr.   Rutled'^e,    tj 
Uct.eral    Howe's    head   quarters.     ThcJe   Deputies,  lea  iin^  with 
them,  in  a  mai.ly  way.  the  hoflages  which  the  general  had  given 
Jor  their  fecuriiy,   marched  to  the  place  of  conference,  in  the  midll 
of  twenty  thouf.rtd  men  ranged  under  urms.     Whether    this  mili. 
iary  Ihew  ^a.i  meant  todo  honourto  the  Americans  or  to  give  tl.em 
an  high  idea  of  the  Englifti  force,  is  not  worth  enquiry.  It  its  objcft 
was  to  terrify  the  Deputies  of  CongreC^i,  it  failed  ;  making  no  more 
jmpicBion   on  tl.cm,  than    the   fudden   difcovc-y  of  elephants  did 
upon  certain   embafladors  of  old.     The  utmoft  polit.ncfs   having 
paired  on  both  fides,  the  conference  ended,  as  had  been  foreleeii, 
without  any  efFefl. 

Mr.  Adams  having  been  fifteen  months  one  of  the  Commiflioiiers 
ofthc  War  department,  and  a  principal  fuggeftor  of  the  terms  to  be 
offered  to  France,  for  fsrming  treaties  of  alliance  and  ommerte,  he 
was  fent  to  the  court  of  Verfaillcs,*a»  one  of  the  Mli.illerg  I'lenipo- 
tentiary  of  the  United  S:atfs.  After  continuing  fome  time  invelt- 
ed  with  this  important  trull,  he  remrned  tr,  America :  where  he  na 
fooner  appeared,  than  he  was  called  upon  by  the  State  of  MalTachu- 
fets  Bay  to  afTill  in  forming  a  fyihm  of  government,  tinr  mi^ht 
eftablini  the  rights  of  all  on  clear,  jull,  and  permiiient  ground;.  He 
v/as  never  employei!  in  a  b.jrin,..fi  moti  agreeable  to  riimr>;!f  ;  (or 
the  happiiicfj  of    his  Ftlk-^Citizens    is   his  great   obj  a.     He 

*  fought 


«iHa< 


60 


CHARACTER    OF 


t 


:r. 


m:^ 


n\ 


fought  not  honour  in  ihia  itdunus  undrrtakirg,  but  it  fell  nh}. 
naicly  upon  Urn.  He  I1.1S  g.iii  td  it  all  over  Europe.  If  he  en« 
deavi'Uiid  1  ohuin  it  by  the  (fteem  and  love  of  hit  rountrymen, 
he  lias  fuccecded  :  for  they  know  they  nrc  chiefly  indebted  io  him 
for  tiic  corltiuition  uf  the  State  of  Malidchufeti  Bay,  as  it  Hands 
at  'lit  d  ;y. 

T^ii  important  bufincri  being  completed  to  the  fatibfa^ion  of 
all,  \iC  came  back  to  Europe,  wi'h  full  powers  frotn  Congrefi  to 
aflill  at  any  conferences  which  miglit  be  opened  for  the  eltabli(h« 
ir.cni  of  peace;  and  had  fent  him,  foon  after,  other  powers  to 
cegr  cjj.c  .1  loan  cf  money  for  the  ufe  of  the  United  States ;  and  to 
rrprcirnt  ihcm,  ai  their  Minifler  Plcnipc^tentiary,  to  their  High 
Mightiniirfs  tie  St;<tei>  General  of  the  United  Provinces.  Such 
important  trufts  ftifw,  in  what  eflimation  he  is  held  by  his  co4|try  ; 
and  hi;  manner  J  exec :ai:i:g  thctn,  that  confiJcnce  is  well-placed. 

On  h'>  arrival  in  Holland,  nothing  could  have  bfcn  more  iin« 
pi  untiling  to  the  h-.p^-y  execution  p1  his  million  thin  were  the  af- 
Inirs  of  Hint  (:')iintry.  The  ii/fliicncc  of  the  Court  of  St.  James's 
ever  a  certain  fet  "f  ren,  the  intercll  that  many  had  in  the  funds 
Old  ccnincrcc  r,f  Krjjhnl,  and  the  dr?ad  of  her  power,  which 
}>cricrally  pievhilid  tiiroDghnut  the  I'rovinces  obliged  liim  to  aft 
with  the  urntoil  c  in  mrpe^lion.  iniknowii,  aid  at  liril  nnnoiictd, 
(itt  lru!t  but  by  a  f.w)  he  had  noiiii-^-  t<t  do  but  to  examine  into  the 
H;ite  of  thiugb,  ani!  cl.sracler?  of  the  leading  men.  This  rccfffary 
knowkdj;f  was  fczftcly  rcquiied,  whi.'i>  the  conduct  of  the  Britifh 
Kiiiiiiliy  afiuidid  him  an  c.ppcrtui.ity  of  (hewing  himfilf  more 
ppviily.  'I'he  crn.cmpt,  iniuU  ar.d  violence,  with  which  the 
whoie  [!•  Ij;':c  nttion  was  trcaifd,  guve  him  [;r'.Tt  advantages  over 
the  Erghlh  Umb^fl'ador  at  lie  Hague.  He  Tervcd  himfeif  of  his 
rivi'l'»  laDiiitri,  nrd  folly  wiili  picat  co.'Inefs  and  ability ;  and,  by 
coi.l' i]i;i  ncc,  btCiirr  c  lu  {-aniculaily  ubiipxious  to  the  prevailing 
pa  y,  that  I.e  f^'d  ni.t  dire  to  go  to  a  village  fcarcely  a  day's 
j<<iii'ty  Irrin  his  icfiderce,  S»ii  wiih  the  utnioll  Tecrecy :  the  fate 
of  Di  tiflaub  WIS  bi.fof«  liif  c)  es.  Havit  g  beerr  therefore  under  the 
i>cc((ji;y  of  inakir^  himfclf  a  Burgher  oi  Anilterdam,  for  protection 
agaii'ii  tie  tnalue  nf  inc  times,  he  Torn  pained  the  good  opinion 
if  the  Ivlrgillraici.  by  his  prudent  coridtdt  as  a  private  Citizen. 
'1°1  c  b.>d  puiicy  of  Eiigl-'^-nd,  enabled  him  to  llrp  forward  as  a  piib« 
lie  cli<ir<{rter.  As  luct^,  he  preicnted  to  th«  S  atis  General  his 
taniout  Mcoioiiai,  Ortid  the  i(jih  of  April,  1781,  wherein  the  de> 
djiraiion  of  the  ii;fiei.ciuiency  of  America  on  the  ^th  of  July,  1776, 
w.Ts  jiiltified  :  the  uiialttrahlc  refolution  cf  the  Unilid  States  to 
ubicc  thereby  aliened  ;  l^e  intercll  that  all  the  powers  of  Europe, 
and  particularly  tie  States  General,  have  in  maintaining  it  prov- 
id  i  the  polit.cil  and  natural  grourdii  of  a  commercial  conne^iAn 


b 


eiwtftn  tlie  two 


Repi.blicj   p'ljnted  out  ;    and  inl 


ntormation   given 


.that  the  M 'morialift  w.;s  invefted  with  fell  powers  from  Congrtfs  to 
irrat  with  their  tJieh  Miehtincllc-s,  fur  the  good  of  both  countries. 


iig 


The  ji;  denting  this  Memorial  was  a  delicate  llep  ;  Mr.  Adams 
vv.is  fcnliole,  th^i  he  aloi  e  was  aiilwtrdble  for  its  confeqiiences,  it 
being  tikcn  not  merely  from  his  own  fingle  fuggellion,  but  con- 
»rrify  to  the  opinion  and  ;.dvice  of  fome  of  great  weight  and  autho- 
rity.    H..icvcr,    maiurely    corin.'cing  the  meaf  ire,   he  faw  it  in 

ail 


f 


i 


it  fell  iiltU 
>.  If  he  en- 
rountrymen, 
ebtcd  to  him 

as  it  (lands 


% 


itisfa^ion  of 
Congrefi  to 
the  dlabliih- 
er  powers  to 
tates ;  and  to 
)  their  High 
inces.     Such 

his  co«itry ; 
well-placed, 
ecn  more  uiw 
I  were  the  af» 
f  St.  James's 
d  in  the  funds 
power,  which 
ed  him  to  afl 
irft  iiiinoiictdt 
imiiie  into  tli8 
This  rccfffary 

of  the  BritiOi 

himfclf  more 
ith  which  the 
dvantages  over 

himfeif  of  his 
iliiy;  and,  by 

the  prevailing 
arcely  a  day's 
crecy;  ilie  fate 
eforc  under  the 
,  for  proteftion 
s  gnod  opinion 
rivate  Citizen, 
rward  as  a  pub- 

s    General  his 
(vherein  tlie  de- 
1  of  July,  I776» 
ffiitid  States  to 
wers  of  Europe, 
ainiiig  it  prov- 
rcial  conneftien 
ormaiion   given 
mm  Corgrefs  tq 
fboth  countries. 
p  ;  Mr.  Adams 
jonfcqiiences,  it 
ellion,   but  con- 
light  and  autho- 
rs he  faw  it  in 
•11 


J  O  H  N    A  D  A  M  S*#  6i' 

#  il!  its  llghtf.  and  boldly  ventured  on  the"  •ndertaklnj.  The  full 
•nd  .mmed.ate  cff.a  of  it  was  rot  expe«ed  at  Vnce.  The 
firft  objeft  wa,  that  the  nation  fl,„uld  confider  the  matter 
thoroughly;  u  be.ng  evident,  that  ,l,e  more  it  was  rum". ted 
on,  the  more  obvi.u.  would  be  the  advantages  and  neceffily 
of  a  connca.on  between  the  two  countries.  When  therefore ThJ 
Memorial  wa,  taken  by  H,e  States  General  ad  r*f.r»ndum,Ztvi 

a.      r.»    V!uT''^v    '"  »'"P'=  ""'"Sht  of,  and   re.fon  d  on  the 
fc      matter  fet  before  them  ;  many  excellent  waitings  appeared  and  the/ 

L,  Poln.qu,  Holla!,J»u,  drew  the  attention  of  .U,  on  account  of 
.ts  .nformalion.  the  louudwf.  of  i„  argument,  and  its  pSal 
judgment  and  patr.otifm  At  length  the  time  came  when  th, 
work  was  to  be  compleated:  the  generality  of  the  people  of  Holland! 
feeing  he  nccefnty  01  opening  anew  courfe  to  their  trade,  3 
„.y  1.  r,  '/§"? '""."'•'^•"^''I'''  ""'  »'•«  commercial  fpirit  of  otlec 
wi  h  the  U  f.  /^°.  *^"""V"'I  demanded  ,„  immediate  conneaion 
with  the  Unitrd  State,  of  America,  as.m;ansof  indemnifying 
themfelve.  for  the  lofs  wh.cl,  a  declared  enemy  had  brought  on  the?i! 
and  the  rivallhip  of  neighbouring  nations  might  produce. 

,ff^"  A"""      T"^  "'.'   """""  «''''«»'   'he  Public  difpofition 
afforded  him.    and  prefert.d  his   Ulterior  Addref.  of  the^  h  of 

inrir^',«^  '•;'i""'"«.""=^'='"  '» ''i' Manorial  of  the  ,9th  of 
April.  1781.  and  demanding  a  categorical  anfwer  thereto.  The 
Town,,  L.fes,  Quarter,  and  States  of  the  feveral  Provinces  took  the 
who  e  matter  into  immediate  deliberation,  and  inllruacd  their  fe- 
veral  Deputies,  m  the  States  General,  to  concur  in  the  admiffion  of 
Mr.  Adams  in  quality  of  Mmifter  plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
fh,  H-^u°!J  ^u'^'T-  ^''''  *"  ''°'"  ^y  «  refolu.ion.  pafTed  by 
of  .'he"fei.^'^  r^M  ''^L'9  °'  April,',78z;  andon^hez2d 
of  the  feme  month,  Mr.  Adam,  was  admitted  accordingly,  with 
ail  the  ufual  ceremonies.  *  ' 

hJn%\Tlr!T'  -A    '"'!  •""    "  g"-"'  "  ^^°^  "  »"y  'J-^t  I>" 

It  Lwed   .i.  n  Tk      "'"^  'T"^'  "^  England  during\he  war. 

It  ftiewcd  the  Dutch  were  no  longer  ovcr-awed  by  the  power  of 

their  enemy,  for  they  dared  to  brfve  him  to  his  t«th       U Tet  in 

example    to   ether    nations   to   partake  of  the  commerce  of  5ofc 

cZrA-A^'"^  England  had  loll  by  her  inconlderat^  c.  nd  ft   l" 

that  sl  1  Inh  V 'I  "''  Englilh  partifans  in  Holland,  and  proved 

•tee .  rlil'^^  .    K     "  1""'  ""^   '^'  8'"'  •"'"»««'  f'<=  had  hitherto 

thlVrlTi  \     ^'J"'"  "'"'■'""  '°  *•"  embaffador  of  one  of 

rr\^^  M    r  "",^'"  "f  fi"^P=  'O  f^y  t"  Mr.  Adams :     f^ou,  aviz 

frapp.,  Mon/icur     U  flu,  grand  aup  dt  ^t  V  Europ,.     C'eft  U  S 

grand  coup     qui  a  .ifrappe  dan,  U   cau/e  An,eruL       c/ft  it 

at  nation  d  tntb.ufiafmt.^rou  hav,  Jlruck.sir,  the  srtluff /iroki  in 

•"l,^  party  ?  It  „  you  -who  han^e  filUd  thi,  nation  w.iih  enthufiafm  « 
then  turning  to  another  gentlema-i,  he  faid.  C/ .'.// L,  C*. 

Ada..-,,  that  Ifi^s  thn:     „  i,  Iccaufe  truly  I  think  it ,/  hi,  d.e. 
*  ^         *  TiM. 


/ 


# 


'•*p- 


# 


-»# 


fl 


'i  if 


I 


'^- 


62 


C  II  A  R  A  C  T  fi  R    ^f. 


,^4 : 


ThU  dip'jmitic'ei«iplimcnt  liai  b-cii  fol'owcd  by  oilie-j.  -1 
traiifcribc  whh  nlfafifc  n  <:oiiviv;.iI  en-  contain:J  in  the  fjlliw'n* 
liiiei,  wliiii  "11  Ii'-'-iirocs  anJ  pairi.-tic  Du  '•lima'i  af'dr.'ffcd  to  hif 
excellency  Ml"**  A()«r»s,  "ii  t'lirkin'  lo  him  rm  cf  n  Inigc 
iwauiidil  glaA,  wlii'h  ii  called  a  b»c(ule,  nnd  hnd  infciibid  rourd 
ill  brir,  Air-a  Libtrtas : 

i»OREA    L^tBHTAH!      f^r.udt  !     fiuf)   ttltlfa  HIHtliU       « 

4  FiitJUt  It    r:nuit  /jf\.ire  eolU  j.igf  y 

•  Hmt  tilt  lirixtuji  jittHtonUri  Btl[>a  r:ctp!l       ^   . 

PfOtri  ftitcsro  poa^U  plana  /oo.  '  y  , 

'    •  Vtr.iqut  gtut  r.tilit,  kfo::  Jitfficiinil\   ip-annlt^  •'♦ 

*  ^rf  libtiicti  vincuh  /titra  prtcar  I  « 

(  Aniniiutioh  ot  the  Vcfftsbfegtnninji;  Wt\h  Aurea  Lidertai.] 
.    .  No<w  Libtrty  exult  !  frr^  on  thy  foflcrin^^  -uIm'^i, 


F4r  from  the  blotdy  dt/pol't  yoke,   CsJumHa  Ipritgit 
Com/  Fav^ri/t  *  c/iht  Godd^fi,  or  thr  Hrlgic  Jhcrtf 
To  ihfi  ifjt  riih  Hbatian  Jhcill  Ijtr  frtei-   -s  fctir  : 
4nd  may  iffufiehial  Stales  f  in  tr.alejt    iJondi  :tnill! 
Kliil/l  ihftll  7'}retni  Iremhlet  at  tht  g'ariiui   Siolt  ! 
•   Mr.  AilaiiK",  t  Htllar.d  aid  Amctics. 

Tl  cy  wlo  have  an  <.ppriiuaity  of  kncwi-j;  hi-  Exc-llcncy  Mr. 
Adams  u'arc  in  Iiis  featurci  ilit  moft  uncqiivoca'  mnrki  of  prohiiy 
ar.d  <ai'doiir.  He  nr.ii;';  to  that  gravity,  Ibiublcfn  i!ic  cha.jd'cc 
Willi  which  he  is  iiivcPcd,  aw  sfTabiliiy,  wMcli  p.cjvdicej  you  in 
Msfsvcur.  Alth.-.u^h  vi  n  filent  iiirr,  as  Wil!  ;  ni  the  Prince  of 
Oraiigc  wa>,  and  moft  f,reat  ircn  arc,  wl  n  crij-i;'-:  ii  fnporcn* 
.affairs,  Vc  las  rtveti!  "Icfs  a  rstuicl,clrq-rnre  10' me  d'T'iflion 
jai  matters  which  arc  the  i  hjrfl*  of  hi»  n.ifiion,  and  for  ;bc  rcom- 
(•ttVndiiif;  and  crfrrcii'g  the  trutl-.s,  trcafurcs,  and  lyfler?,  wMch 
arc  dictated  by  found  policy.  I'c  Jjas  neither  the  ci  riupfcd  noi( 
corruptinn  principles  ( f  Lord  ChtlUrfielJ,  nor  the  qualities  of  Sic 
Jofcph  Y(>rl<p  liiji  the  plain  .tJ  "j'tjoii;  Jci5ie.>ricr  n.'  Sir  Willldni 
Temple.  Like  hitn  ico  lie  is  fimple  in  nfg'ciatifn,  where  hu 
finds  cardcmrin  thofc  who  trtai  with  l.irn.  O'.bcrwif:  lie  has  tliu 
f(;veiity  of  a  i  i*;  rcpiiblicar,  his  high  id"i  of  v-rtuc  g!vii[;  him  a 
rigit'nef'^^,  which  m.^krs  it  difficult  for  him  to  acron^nTi'l-.ti;  hinllffif 
to  ihofe  intrigues  which  European  pol'iic^  have  iii-roduced  into 
jpegociation.  '•  II fait  que  Pan  dt  ntoocitr  u\jt  jas  t'crt  li'intrigufT 
It^dt  tromper  ;  qa^il  nt  ccii/ifle  pas  a  cctrom^rs;  ale  ia  er  dci  Jtrmcns^ 
^(tfi/eiutf  let  ,i'armes  tt  let  divifiont ;  qu'uii  nr^  ii.-liur  babile  *::it 
J^artjenirn  Jen  but  Jam  cei  txpedititt,  qui  font  la  tri/}errjiiirce  dtt, 
inlriguatis,  Jans  avoir  trcourt  ,»  des  vttiiKrii'vrei  deiourres  tl  txtraordi- 
■f  aires.  11  Irouiie  dam  la  nature  mtme  dis  c£'uirts  qtiilnegocie  ties  ir.- 
(ids(i,s  propret  r  fnire  re^/Jir  lous  Jet  prtfcls  —^fls  is  Jcr.f.ble  the  art  of 
*ieg»cifxting  is  noi  the  art  of  intriguing  an  J  dcceiviff^  :  that  it  dots  r.ot 
toijijl  iiKortrjtirir  ;  in  tr.akivg  a  farce  cf  ones  oalh,  and  in  fcx^i/t^ 
alarms  4ttd  divijio.tt.  Thai  an  a':'h  nc^oi:a:3r  eat  arrii'tftei 
iiis  tnJ  luilhauttkofe  expedients,  ivhiih  are  tt~'  n'.Jerable  rexiHif' 
fj' i.'!irigucr\  Witioul  haniKir  r(c:uTji  tt  ottkof  tic  iiay  and  ix: 
quinary  ncKCtH'uris,  he  f.iiis,  even  in  Viitwe,  circumji/wces  Ji 
•f<.l!nb  he  r.Lgs'iiaits  i;.c:uents  fro'^ir  to  make  bis  pr-jdli  fuaccu^'' 


T    HE  E    M    I^ 

.'41  -*  '""''''!***-«," 


*Sh^'- 


% 


f 


-'iiijfilWilii 


by  otlie-3.  '1 
,  (be  foII)*5nj  \ 
iHdvfrcd  to  hit 
in  of  a  hvgc 
nfciibtd  rourd 


mutf:U      * 

A   LinERT 


/'U 


/p'ritgt,    ■' 
it  Jhcrc, 
ur  : 

I  ::nitif 
s   Shhl  I 
nrtica. 

Exc-Uciicy  Mr.     • 
mniks  of  rrobiiy 

..ejiidices  y^"  "» 
i.ni  the  Piiocc  of 
-"i{.e  ii  frnport^'nl 
lor  the  dif--.:ffiou 
id  for  '.he  te^om- 
,d  lyP.c!^!'.  v.'^:ich  ' 
he  ciriuptUd    no« 
he  qcHl'tic^.  of.Sic 
icr  c.f  Sir  WiUldin 
bt'.on,    wlicre   li« 
i>crwil':  be  bas  tlio 
^rtnc  pivi'C  '/•>"  ^^ 
otr>m'i'!'''t'-'  hiniifl!: 
c   introduced    into 
•at  I' art  d'htrigurr 
It  iaer  da  Jtrmcns^ 
•cicic'jr  habile  pc:it 
la  trifle  rejjuurce  del. 
'nurr}s  tt  exlr.iordi' 
qtt'ilnegocie  dcs  ir.' 
II  Isnfihli  the  art  of 
in^  :  that  it  dcet  not 
all,  and  in  fox-ins; 
r,:or  can   arrirstnei 
rnlferallt  rmKtV 
the  txay  ond  im: 
,  circitinji/wcet^      ^ 
pr-Jci'li  Jiiaeed^ 


i 


>«■•(>' 


•  m. 


*    > 


^'•^jJaiM 


'■■-^-^iLAS'^^ii^  r , 


Wi 


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